Jeff Fights for Father's Rights

I'm Joelle, Jeff Perry's sister. I have been watching my brother's ex-wife work to take their daughter away from Jeff for about 10 years. Their daughter is 12 years old now.

I have been going to court with him steadily for the last year. I am almost speechless at the accusations and claims that are exaggerated if not fabricated. There is no evidence and the "experts" agree that physical abuse is not a part of this case. And sexual abuse is also not a part; neither are drugs or alcohol or neglect. None of these are even part of his ex-wife's claims.

Jeff shared 50/50 physical and legal custody with his ex-wife for 9 years. The judge's court order in February 2017 didn't even afford Jeff the IN state recommended minimum visitation for non-custodial parents.

The stated reasons for this in the court order are the following:

1) the parents can't agree on parenting styles specifically related to bedtimes and homework and

2) because the ex-wife is remarried with a supportive husband and new baby, there is more tension in Jeff's single parent household, where his preteen daughter feels less comfortable talking to her dad about issues related to puberty.

These are NOT reasons to deny a parent and child time together.

In his court ruling, the judge heavily relied on a psychological evaluation by a psychologist who

1) had a previous and prolonged professional relationship with Jeff's ex-wife and new husband and

2) had approximately 200 pages of entirely illegible hand-written notes, which Jeff's lawyer was only given two days to decipher and cross reference with the psychologist's report. The judge denied a motion from Jeff's lawyer to receive a transcript of the indecipherable notes and the opportunity to ask for a review of the psychologist's report by his own expert. Consequently, Jeff's appeal is based on what's known as denial of due process.

His cost to appeal is $7,250. Other costs he has incurred to get to this point add up to a whopping 20K: attorneys, guardian ad litem fees, counselor for daughter, psychologist fees and his ex-wife's attorney's fees.

You can imagine how Jeff feels to be alienated from his daughter. I can't tell you how this breaks my heart. He's not a perfect parent, but he's involved and engaged and loving and generous and holds her accountable for her actions, etc. He's a great parent. This is Jeff. As a friend and fellow-parent told me recently, "We mess up, but we don't give up. We never give up."

Jeff has raised $3,015 as of March 27, 2017 on a GoFundMe account. Thankfully, his appellate lawyer is only asking for $1,250 up front to file his appeal, which happens on March 31. BUT, he has $4,235 to raise just to afford this appeal.

Jeff has a decent job! He works on the sales team at UltraCamp, a software company for summer camp management based out of Niles, MI. But the legal process has sucked him dry until he's giving plasma frequently just to put gas in his car to get to work! He's not running away from this huge mountain of debt, and he's not willing that anything should come between his daughter and him. His income just doesn't cover the expense of the fight.

Please check out the GoFundMe account set up for helping defray his costs. https://www.gofundme.com/jeffs... I have posted some updates there and will continue to do so as we receive more information on his case. Please donate if this touches a cord with you. ANY amount--I swear--be it $1 or $20 or $50 etc. will be met with equal gratitude!

After the appeal notice is submitted March 31, Jeff has 45 days to raise the rest of the $4,235 and file his appeal. Please donate what you can and share our GoFundMe url with your Facebook friends and family and anywhere else it can get some coverage! https://www.gofundme.com/jeffs...

hank you! You have no idea how much "thank you" is in me for your help. And in Jeff too. He's humbled to the core from this whole thing and for what I'm doing...asking for money. It's just where we are at this point.

With all my gratitude,

Joelle (Perry) Ashley