January 11, 2008

I need money for the custody evaluator (please donate)

I really hate doing this, but if you could, please, donate some money.

Before this custody battle started, I had no debt. I paid all of my bills on time and had a payment plan worked out with the girls’ school. Times were tough, but we managed.

Today, I owe tens of thousands of dollars to (what feels like) tens of thousands of people. Most importantly, I owe my custody evaluator a $5,000 deposit.

When this custody fight started, my attorney told me I needed to hire a respectable custody evaluator that would be thorough. We asked if [ex-wife] would be willing to pay for half of the fees, but she refused.

As of this writing, I have paid the custody evaluator seven thousand dollars. In a recent letter and phone call [neither were very clear], I understand I need to come up with another five thousand (or more) dollars to conclude the evaluation. My attorney has explained that this custody evaluation is vital to the success of our case (because judges don’t have the time to conduct their own custody evaluations). I have tried (numerous times) to settle this dispute out of court, but [ex-wife] refuses.

To say I’m desperate is an understatement. Yes, I owe money to a lot of people (my parents, my girlfriend, mortgage, my attorney, [ex-wife]’s attorney, kids’ school, etc.), but without this custody evaluation, I fear the courts will stick with the status quo (i.e., place the kids with their mother and demote me to a ‘visitor’ in their lives).

To make matters worse, I feel their mother (i.e., my ex-wife) is not motivated by love, but for financial gain and resentment towards me.

I am a good father. I am willing to do anything for my kids; even beg for money online.

What I Need…

Donations
I don’t know the minimum donation PayPal lets you do, but I’m guessing it’s about one or two dollars. Any donation (large or small) helps.

Visitors
If you don’t want to donate, forwarding this link to some people, posting on Digg or reblogging this story on Tumblr. The more people who read this story, the (slightly) better the chance that someone might feel moved enough to donate a couple of bucks.

Thanks (in advance) for any help you can provide.

Giancarlo