Makielski Children Reunification Fund

My children, Gabriel Leonardo Makielski Rivera and Isabel Marie Makielski Rivera, where illegally taken to the Dominican Republic by their mother. An existing court order is in place detailing custody, visitation, travel, and the U.S. as habitual residence for the children. The mother removed my children from Virginia and took them to the Dominican Republic without my authorization as required by the current custody order. The Culpeper Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court has ordered the mother to return to Virginia with the children, with which the mother has not complied.

To get the Dominican Republic to comply with the US court order the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction process was initiated. It requires an extensive amount of litigation to get a foreign government to comply with a treaty, all which the financial burden falls on me.  There have been a number of hearings on this matter in the Dominican Republic and more are expected. Legal fees have mounted to over $45,000. More fees are expected. In addition there is ongoing litigation brought on by the mother to stall the return process where over $25,000 in legal fees is still unpaid.

I am trying to raise money to cover the legal expenses, documentation fees, expert testimonies, travel fees, and most important a therapy plan for my children. Thank You for your support.