Hello Everyone, 

My family and I are in desperate need of help. 

My mother has been fighting for my brother and me for over ten years, after she and my father divorced. My father has caused extreme psychological and emotional distress throughout our lives, and most recently (in the past 12 years) in the form of post-separation abuse. If you are not familiar with the family court system, it is one of the most corrupt systems in existence. My father and his wife are extremely narcissistic, manipulative, and psychologically and emotionally abusive. They told lies about and made multiple false accusations against my mother, and in the absence of proper investigation or testimony from my Mom, he was granted full custody of my brother and me. The trauma and emotional damage have taken a great toll on all three of us and continues to this day. However, I was fortunate enough to escape on my 18th birthday. 

My brother has not been so fortunate. He should have had a choice as to where he wants to live once he turned 18, despite being on the autism spectrum, but my father and his wife filed for involuntary legal guardianship/conservatorship of him without proper notice to my mother. We are still confused as to how this even occurred as my mother had always retained joint-legal custody of my brother up until he turned 18 in January in 2026. My brother has expressed time and time again that he wants to live with my mother and me. In fact, every time he is with us he tells us that he does not want to go back and becomes very anxious and physically symptomatic. 

We have witnessed massive changes in my brother since he has primarily been in my father's custody. He is closed-off and emotionally shut-down, stiff as a board, highly anxious and fearful as he is manipulated and controlled and completely isolated while with them. With our mother, he can truly be himself. He is not ashamed of his autistic tendencies; he is uplifted and encouraged to try new things and to simply live normally and be truly happy. Years have gone by and my father has taken away so much from us. He has been holding so much against me ever since I left his house. He kept my brother away from my high school graduation and although he was invited to take photos with me, he never got to see me in my prom dress. I requested his attendance but he also never got to see me run in my last high school track meet. 

The one who has been suffering the most throughout all of this is my brother. Since my father has been controlling almost every aspect of his school and social life, it has put a huge damper on his progress and how his needs should be met to help him grow to his true potential. His father’s self-proclaimed sole decision-making had already occurred for many years and he has gotten away with much more than anyone could ever imagine. He had always attempted to erase our mother from our lives and he is not stopping his heinous actions. With the current involuntary guardian/conservator appointment, he is disallowing my brother to organically spend time with my mother and me by, once again, making false allegations of abuse that have led to yet more police and institutionally-lead investigations.  

My brother deserves to have a voice. His father has succeeded in taking that away from him, which is why we need your help. My mother needs the funds to afford a competent attorney to help fight for my brother. This is an extremely scary and uncertain time for us, and we need all the support and prayers that we can get for the outcome my brother truly wants and deserves.

Thank you so much for reading this and for your thoughtful consideration.

It means more to our family than you will ever know.

Jane W.