I am the proud mom of a young daughter, and her well-being is my first priority. Her dad and I divorced a while back and me and him are going through a pretty nasty child support case. He owes more than $5000 in child support, forcing me to make choices like paying for my daughter’s medication over mine.
It's been a rollercoaster of emotions and trying to figure everything out alone, which is what I have to do because I don't have the means to afford an attorney and couldn’t get help from legal aid.
The legal system is a tedious game. But to ‘win,’ I have to play the game. Not just play it, but play it right. For the sake of my daughter and me, mistakes could not happen. Before I found ILAO, I felt confused all the time. And lost.
I have always been a fighter. I am 100% Irish! So I strapped on my boots to figure this out. That's how I came across Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO).
And ILAO was just amazing for me. ILAO opened a book of resources and tools that helped me start the ‘battle’ and stay strong through the process.
Once I found ILAO, I got my strength back. I knew I had it in me all along - I just didn't know how to use it properly. Doing it alone, there were days that I wanted to give up. But I would get on the ILAO website and push right through those feelings and regain my fighting spirit.
Using ILAO, I did what I needed to do to get her child support back on track. I still have a long time to go before she turns 18. ILAO is my sidekick - my rock - from here on out.
By supporting ILAO, you are helping people like me stay strong and fight for their families. May your holidays be bright,
Nikki
*Not her real name
Your donation today affirms that Nikki - and others like her - who cannot afford or find a lawyer have the support they need to champion their rights.