Geneva Woman Turns to Crowdfunding to Pay for Divorce

Photo credit: Stacey Schnaitman’s GoFundMe page

A Geneva woman says she and her four children deserve a better life. That’s why Stacey Schnaitman says she has turned to an online crowdfunding website to pay for her divorce.

After enduring “psychological, verbal and sometimes physical abuse” for the past 10 years of her marriage from a husband who has been arrested for child endangerment and aggravated assault, Schnaitman said she was fed up. She was also scared for her safety and the safety of her four children.

She knew she wanted a divorce but wasn’t sure how to pay for the attorney fees. Schnaitman told the Daily Herald she lives paycheck to paycheck, and the most affordable attorney she could find was $3,000.

“It would take me forever to save that money up,” she told the newspaper.

When she got the idea to try crowdfunding, she was hesitant to air her dirty laundry but ultimately decided her goal was worthwhile, according to the article. So far, she has raised over $1,300 on GoFundMe.

“I honestly thought I wasn’t going to get a single dollar,” Schnaitman told the Daily Herald. “I mean, who am I to ask for someone to pay for my divorce? But now people have started sharing the link without me even asking.”

Schnaitman set up the crowdfunding site in June and in recent weeks was able to sign a petition to allow her attorney to file for a divorce, according to her GoFundMe Page. In an online update, she thanked her friends and family for their help.

“This time I wont back down. I can’t my kids are the most important reasons in this world,” she wrote. “Thank you to ALL my friends and family for all your prayers, kind words and support.”

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