Raise funds for legal defense on an open platform, without judgment
Other platforms ban legal defense fundraising or force you onto politically charged sites. PayIt2 is the professional, apolitical alternative where anyone can raise funds for legal representation.
The only platform that serves legal defense without a political agenda
This page provides general educational information about legal defense fundraising costs. It is not legal advice. Consult with a licensed attorney about your specific situation.
GoFundMe bans legal defense fundraising for anyone charged with a violent crime. GiveSendGo allows it, but has strong conservative and faith-based associations, as widely documented by major media, which can discourage some mainstream donors. PayIt2 believes everyone deserves the right to fund their defense.
| Feature | GoFundMe | GiveSendGo | PayIt2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal defense campaigns allowed | Bans violent charges | Yes | Yes, all legal defense |
| Politically neutral platform | Perceived center-left | Right-wing identity | Apolitical by design |
| Attorney-organized campaigns | No lawyer features | No lawyer features | Attorney-verified pages |
| Bilingual support (EN/ES) | Limited | English only | Full bilingual pages |
| Disclaimer templates for legal compliance | No | No | Included |
| Secure payment processing (Stripe) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Set up a legal defense campaign in minutes
No approval process. No waiting period. Your campaign goes live immediately so you can start raising support when it matters most.
Create your campaign
Choose the legal defense template. Add your story, set a goal, and include attorney information. Use our suggested disclaimer language to protect everyone involved.
Share with your community
Share your campaign via social media, text, or email. PayIt2 includes built-in sharing tools for Facebook, Twitter, and direct link sharing. Bilingual pages help reach wider communities.
Receive funds securely
Participants pay by credit card through Stripe's secure processing. Funds transfer to your bank account in 2-3 business days. Track every contribution in your manage list.
Legal defense fundraising for every situation
Whether you're a family, attorney, or community organization, PayIt2 provides a professional platform to raise funds for legal representation.
Criminal defense
Facing criminal charges is overwhelming. Help your loved one secure quality legal representation, from DUI defense to serious felony charges. We don't remove campaigns based on the nature of the charges.
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Custody and family law
Custody battles can cost $10,000 to $50,000 or more. When one parent has a financial advantage, fundraising levels the playing field so both sides get fair representation.
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Immigration defense
Deportation and removal proceedings require urgent legal help. PayIt2 supports bilingual campaigns so families can reach their communities in English and Spanish.
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Civil rights cases
Wrongful prosecution, police misconduct, and civil liberties violations. Rally community support for cases where justice depends on having proper legal counsel.
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Small business disputes
Sued by a larger company? Facing a landlord dispute or contract battle? Raise funds from your customers and community to afford proper legal representation.
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Wrongful termination
Fired without cause or in retaliation? Fund the legal fight to hold employers accountable for wrongful termination, discrimination, or violation of employment rights.
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Appeals and post-conviction
The fight doesn't end at sentencing. Fund appeals, habeas corpus petitions, and post-conviction proceedings when families have already exhausted their resources.
Get started Learn more →Legal defense campaigns that made a difference
Real campaigns on PayIt2, organized by licensed attorneys, raising real money for people who needed it most.
Justice for Karen Read Legal Defense Fund
When Karen Read faced charges in a case that drew national attention from CNN, NPR, Fox News, and Vanity Fair, her defense team at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP turned to PayIt2 to fund her legal representation. The result: one of the largest legal defense fundraisers in crowdfunding history.
Following her acquittal in June 2025, a second campaign was created on PayIt2 for her civil defense and accountability case, raising an additional $70,809 from 1,453 donors and growing. Both campaigns were organized directly by her attorneys.
View the campaign →Naason Joaquin Garcia Defense Fund
Organized by Werksman, Jackson, and Quinn LLP. Bilingual campaign reaching English and Spanish-speaking communities across the country.
View the campaign →Eva Garcia de Joaquin Defense Fund
Organized by Chaudhry Law PLLC with full English/Spanish bilingual campaign and legal disclaimers. A model for how attorney-organized pages should work.
View the campaign →A fundraising platform your practice can stand behind
Other platforms weren't built for the legal profession. PayIt2 gives attorneys a professional way to help clients fund their defense without ethical compromises.
Set up a client campaign- Create campaigns on behalf of clients with your firm's name as organizer
- Include legal disclaimers that protect your practice and your client
- Bilingual pages reach broader communities, especially for immigration cases
- Track contributions and export data for trust account reconciliation
- Professional appearance that reflects the seriousness of the matter
- No political branding. Just a clean, trusted platform
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Crowdfunding legal fees is fully legal in the United States. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has affirmed that crowdfunding legal fees is not a crime. Multiple state bar associations (DC, New Hampshire, Wisconsin) have issued opinions confirming that attorneys may ethically accept crowdfunded fees, provided funds are placed in an IOLTA trust account and communications are truthful.
PayIt2 supports legal defense fundraising across all case types. We believe in the presumption of innocence and the right to competent legal counsel. We do not remove campaigns based on the nature of the charges. We maintain narrow restrictions for campaigns supporting terrorism or sanctioned individuals, consistent with U.S. law.
Generally, personal gifts made to support someone's legal defense are not taxable income to the recipient. The IRS treats them as gifts. However, donors who give more than $18,000 to a single recipient in a calendar year may need to report the gift for gift tax purposes. PayIt2 or its payment processor may issue a 1099-K if total payments exceed the IRS threshold. We recommend consulting a tax professional for your specific situation.
Absolutely. Many of our most successful legal defense campaigns are organized by the attorney or law firm representing the client. This adds credibility, ensures proper disclaimers are included, and allows the attorney to manage contributions in accordance with their ethical obligations.
It's free to create a campaign and start collecting contributions. PayIt2 charges low processing fees, significantly less than most crowdfunding platforms. Donors can optionally cover the processing fee so 100% of their contribution goes to the legal defense fund. Funds transfer to your bank account in 2-3 business days.
GoFundMe prohibits campaigns for the legal defense of anyone charged with a violent crime. They will remove your page without warning. GiveSendGo allows legal defense fundraising but has strong conservative and faith-based associations that may discourage some mainstream donors. PayIt2 is apolitical, professional, and welcomes legal defense causes for virtually any lawful purpose, in full compliance with Stripe's acceptable use policies.
Everyone deserves the right to a defense
Create a legal defense campaign in minutes. No approval process. No political agenda.
Start your legal defense campaign