THE PROBLEM:
Imagine having a custody battle and not having the financial ability to hire a competent attorney. Many hardworking individuals find themselves in this situation. As a result, there is a rising problem of people applying for state funded legal aid, but do not qualify because they earn slightly more than the low income/poverty level requirements. State funded legal aid organizations provide a state attorney that is often overwhelmed, overworked, and under compensated at no cost to the resident. But just because someone does not qualify for a state funded legal aid, does not mean that the person can actually afford a private attorney. Let's face it. Hiring an attorney is an investment and can be expensive as the case progresses, especially in family law cases. These are also very emotional times for people involved in the family court system. Our goal is develop a client legal aid fund to help supplement at least 25 families combined through our 2 locations in Tennessee and in Indiana.
HOW WE ARE SOLVING THE PROBLEM:
We have offered existing clients payment plans to help ease their temporary financial hardship. But sometimes a payment plan is still not feasible for some people when they are living paycheck to paycheck or without an income source. That is why we are starting this client legal aid fund to assist new clients with some of their legal fees and court costs. For a client to qualify, we will get proof of their income, financial declarations and tax returns (which we usually get anyways in family law cases). Our goal is to raise as much funds as possible to assist those in a financial hardship. No one should go through the family court system without an attorney.
WHAT THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR:
The funds will strictly be used for our clients who have a financial hardship.
WHO WE ARE:
We are Attorney Yetunde (Okunade) Aird and Attorney Erika Bryant. Both of us are graduates of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. Attorney Yetunde (Okunade) Aird created her law practice in 2014 at only 28 years old, and is now operating in 2 states, Indiana and Tennessee. We work primarily in the family law courts. We cover many paternity, child support, child custody, and dissolution cases each year. We fight for mothers rights, as well as fathers rights. We also work on adoption cases. We have a heart to serve more people and we don't want those who need a competent attorney on their side, but can't afford one, to go through the complex family law system alone. Please join us in this campaign to help change the lives of others.
WHY IFUNDWOMEN?:
We believe in this crowdfunding platform to support women entrepreneurs who are seeking to do good in their communities. We are grateful for this platform, grateful for your pledges that will change lives, and we are grateful for our reward partners in this campaign who are donating their products, services, and time: Benji Aird of Airdography, Kris Christian, Founder of Chicago French Press, and Jada Davis, Author of "Get your Sh*ft in order.
