Call for Funding

The White-Collar Wives Project has been in existence for ten years, providing guidance and support for innocent spouses and adult children of white-collar criminals as they navigate the emotional, legal, and economic morass of a head of household’s occupational crime. The public is quick to stigmatize spouse’s with guilt by association, but this is a serious miscalculation. Families are the first victims of these crimes and not only suffer an enormous and egregious familial betrayal, but are also treated as chattel by jurisdictions across the country via civil asset seizure and forfeiture of an innocent spouse’s portion of the untainted marital estate. I funded this work out of my own pocket for many years, and only recently began charging for my consulting work. I simply cannot do this work for free any longer, and there is much work to be done.

Many ask why I don’t simply form a non-profit entity, but that would mean recruiting a board, hiring staff, steering a fundraising machine, and so much more. I have worked in the non-profit arena and it requires hands on attention at every turn. My time must remain focused on the needs of the women and children who reach out to me for guidance on how to navigate this life changing event, continue to research and complete my second book, (this time for attorneys), In Defense of the Innocent Spouse. I cannot become tied to an office of paperwork and spend hours upon hours networking to gain funding.

My first book The White-Collar Wives Survival Guide, continues to be the go-to manual for those just starting down the dreadful road of massive displacement (emotional, physical, and financial) and has garnered praise from those who have needed it. But now it’s time to turn my efforts toward finishing my second book, this time a reference book for attorneys to provide a defense for white-collar innocent spouses, as they have a unique need for representation in several areas of the law. Where a perp only requires only a white-collar criminal defense attorney, through no fault of her own, the innocent spouse requires presentation in several areas of the law including due process, taxes, property law, civil asset seizure, divorce, bankruptcy, and more. This book has taken far longer than anticipated to complete as the research is extensive. From case law, to the legal history of marriage as pertains to law, civil asset seizure, etc., I can no longer fund this project on my own. For more information on how to support the efforts of the WCWP, please contact Lisa Lawler at lawlerlis1@gmail.com.

While gifted funds are not deductible, they are indeed, much appreciated.

In Defense of the Innocent Spouse: A New Area of the Law

This book has been in development for three years. The case research alone is exhaustive, as is placing content into a format that can be presented on a teachable scale for law schools or practicing attorneys. In Defense of the Innocent Spouse utilizes the experiences of over 150 white-collar innocent spouses, many who have lost their own portion of the marital estate to civil asset seizure and administrative forfeiture, which is a violation of the Excessive Fines Clause, as well as a violation of due process. It’s time for a new area of the law to be created to defend innocent spouses as the epidemic of greed and familial destruction is reaching an all time high.

Webinar Development

Last year the WCWP created a six module series titled A New Perspective on Deterrence and these accredited webinars were met with rave reviews. Our goal this year is to transform these one on one webinars into an easily accessible e-learning platform. But it takes funds that we simply don’t have. The WCWP’s novel approach of anti-fraud programming is a game changer.

Any amount is helpful and greatly appreciated!