I find myself in need of some financial support. As someone who has always been independent, it is difficult for me to ask for help, but here I am. I was married for 26 years and I didn't realize that my ex wasn't planning on staying with me for a big part of the marriage. She wasn't happy and I was doing everything i could to make her happy. including to buy a larger house only for her to serve me divorce papers. We bought the house and put in wood floors, painted the house, installed a pool with jacuzzi, new roof and landscaping. Once that was complete she served me and told me to move out. I did and lost my rights to everything I owned. She had a great plan to ruin me and she was successful. I tried to save my family and she wanted me to agree to pay for pavers in the backyard before considering spending time with me. She wanted me to sign a post nuptial agreement and then she would consider getting back together with me. The one good thing my attorney did was not give me those papers to sign. i was a mess mentally and would have signed everything away. Rights to the house, my son etc. 
i went through a divorce and had to fight to prove to the family court that for time to see my son. My ex wife claimed many false accusations. She claimed that i was an alcoholic and was going to therapy for my addiction. That is completely not true. But the judge and her attorney asked if i drank. yes, I have a couple beers. But that's it. When we had BBQ i had a beer or two. Even writing this sounds like I have a problem. I assure you I do not. Normal social behavior that was blown out of proportion to make her look like an innocent victim. She hit me and if i defended myself she called the police and showed bruises that happened while she was at work moving desks. I knew if she had a bruise she was going to start a fight and already had pictures to show the police. She kept me from seeing my son and would leave her teaching job early to pick up my son from school if she knew i was going to see him at the bus stop. The divorce took 4 years and 11 months. She kept having me prove that i wasn't hiding funds. She thought I had money somewhere but I couldn't even pay for a slice of pizza at times. I ate pasta with water when I didn't have my son so i could buy him ground beef when i have him. I haven't seen my dog in almost 6 years and it pains me to think about what he thinks happened to me. I don't date. I don't have money to spend on a relationship. I live in a terrible apartment but I'm thankful for it. It's better than the one bedroom my son and I shared for 4 years. We had two beds in one room and i was vilified in court by the judge for that situation. But I sunk all my funds into a house that i wasn't allowed into. My car needs repairs. the brakes scrape hen i drive but i can't afford the $1,200 it would cost to fix it. I believe she knew I was broke but it was another form of torture to make me scrape by. Since I moved out before anything was settled i lost rights to my son. That makes her residential parent and I have to pay child support to someone who makes more than I do. She goes to Atlantic city and leaves the dog home alone for the weekend when she goes. People don't believe that but he's only 5 pounds and she leaves food and water and a pad for him to pee and poop on. She won't allow my son to bring him to my house. 
I have a job. I work hard but to pay child support and rent is difficult. I am still making payments on furniture I bought. I wasn't able to take anything from the house. I paid for half of everything and got nothing. Not even the things I bought before my ex and i were married. We don't speak and only communicate through the my family wizard app. She won't trade parenting days and if my son has an event at school on my time she won't let him take the clothes he has so i have to borrow clothes that may or may not fit from friends or family. It makes me look like a terrible dad but I am trying the best i can. 
My job let 3 people go out of 7 for budget cuts. So i don't know if they are eliminating my team or not. They can people from other countries do my job for one tenth the cost. I am in the middle of paying my credit cards and the money i borrowed from family members to pay my attorney costs. 
My ex would not agree to go through mediation. My attorney moved firms two times during the trial. When she moved from one firm to the next she said to not pay the bill at the first firm. and then billed me for the hours at the second firm. So the first firm is now coming after me for the bills. That's over $12,000 alone. It's in collection now and i don't answer my phone from any number I don't know. My son told me they knock on the door for me at the marital house. Of course my ex didn't tell me so I'm sure it's on my credit report but it doesn't affect me since I can't afford to buy anything anyway. 
I know there are people out there that have it worse than i do. I am asking for financial support here so i can give my son a proper upbringing and to be a good dad to him. I am only asking from people who can afford it, I don't want to take away from others. and I am sorry i am in this position to have to ask. Thank you for your consideration.