Already I have my first question: I have play rehearsal tomorrow 3 to 7 so can't drop off the kids at the regular dropoff time we have each week. I emailed X I can drop them off at 2:30 or at 8:00 instead. No reply and it's been a couple hours. If he doesn't reply by tomorrow afternoon (even though he texts on his iphone constantly apparently it's tough for him to check my emails he says as I don't believe they are a priority). If he doesn't reply, then what should I do??? I don't want to be an a$$, but doesn't he have some responsibility to check emails periodically re: the kids?
BS. You can get your email on the iphone as easily as you can get texts. Yes, I think you have a reasonable expectation for expedient communication re: the kids; is it possible to discuss what that mechanism / expectation should be?
Well he has responded to my last couple of emails now; within 24 hours; I guess I'm ok with that. In the past it might have been a couple of days to reply, which since D10 says he's on the iphone all the time is annoying!
Been busy doing stage crew for the play. Totally fun, most of the cast and crew are old friends; almost family. One more play this afternoon and then I get 3 days off, so I can catch up on laundry and chores and all that stuff.
I dropped off the kids yesterday at noon. X and OW were there to pick them up. I looked over at her (haven't seen her in almost 3 years). At first, I really thought it was his mom, like is his mom in town and then realized, no just OW looking 10 years older than she did when I last saw her. She looks just like his mom. Short, short hair, flat-chested, my total opposite...She looks seriously 10 or more years older than me. Guess all the marriages (3 so far), and troubled kids and step-kids age ya. I think it was only a month or 2 ago, I was angry when OW and he showed up to pick up the kids, but I pretty much felt nothing like that yesterday. Maybe sorry for the kids a bit.
I got an email forwarded by my L Thursday. I'm guessing she emailed about his doing the garnishment order for child support/custody. He emailed her he isn't going to work on the case anymore b/c of a sizeable outstanding issue from X that isn't going to be resolved. I'm thinking that he's got a huge legal fee he can't pay now. So he withdraw and X is now representing himself. I'm just hoping he does the order and it's over. Makes me a little nervous. He did give me the check yesterday; so hopefully it'll all work out.
I realized after I dropped off the kids yesterday, went and did some makeup shopping which I never would have done pre-D, I'm happy. I kind of knew I'd be better off without X, but I really really am. He seems so self-destructive now, prob. better to be out of that...
Just got back and checked my email. My L sent me a letter this week. She had asked me to set an appt. when I got the order. Um, I can read; don't need or want to pay $200 an hour to discuss what I can understand by myself. She said the wage garnishment paperwork hasn't been done (the one thing I told her I wanted done half a dozen times!!!) which she left up to H's L (even a total maroon could figure out that was going to be a problem). And an order splitting up our retirements (with me gaining substantially more from that arrangement.). She says of course she won't prepare those 2 orders unless I pay her and will take her at least 4 hours (which means 5 or 6), at least a $1000. Um, the wage garnishment order should be on her computer and take her 5 minutes or less to print out. WTH? But most Ls won't take your case without a couple grand retainer, so I think she is using this to pump up more fees (she's already gotten 10 grand or so from my brother, and $2500 from X.
Any ideas on this. At this point, I'm thinking about seeing if I can just do it myself; shouldn't be that hard if I can get a template of the orders (maybe a kit online or something). The judge already decided everything, and maybe have an L from my church look it over before I submit it. Another thought I have is the prior order with X paying me twice the fees is maybe still in effect until a new support order (almost half the original) is filed. Maybe X has a motivation to do the one order re: support/alimony? He is a L and would have an easier time doing of course. And then I could try to figure out the retirement thing....Any ideas on this stuff??? I DO NOT want to pay my L a grand or more. In her current letter to me, she said my "ensuing silence is ominous". WTH? I just got the letter today. She threatens if she doesn't hear from me by early this week (tomorrow or Tuesday) she will file a motion to withdraw. I'm thinking I should let her!!!
Maybe you could contact another L for their take on her ineptness. It also seems as if you have had as many problems with her as you have had with your ex! Hope this week goes well. Crazy weekend rushing to get S17 ready for prom(basically 3 days to get everything!!) It turned out nice and hopefully I can now chill.
kat
Me-53(and learning!) S24, S21, D18, D17 Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming. Dory
I found one of the forms, the garnishment one, free on the fl state court website. I could do it in about 10 minutes. Thinking maybe since I can't find the other one, splitting retirement for us both, I might see if I could just hire an atty. for that one. It should be an hour or less in "real" time, although I guess that is 3 hours in L time...
I can only concur with what Kat and CTH have said. I'd go with another atty at this point as well, given all that you've dealt with regarding the previous one.
I feel better today. I called another local atty. today--he's the total opposite of my current L. He said he wouldn't feel comfortable just taking the case w/o talking to my L, although I did tell him she was discussing filing the Motion to Withdraw. I, do think after 2 years of her representing me that was probably just an idle threat/intimidation, but I've had enough of that in my life. Apparently, both motions are very simple from what he says, so would be a big savings to go with him. I think my former L was padding her fees or whatever...
He called me back late afternoon and said he'd called her 2 or 3 times today and she didn't return his calls, so he'll keep trying or something and keep in touch. (At that point, though, I think the new L has done his part to be on-board with this. If the sitch was reversed and I was switching to her, she'd take my case in a heartbeat if I had a check and not bother paying him a courtesy call!!!
If this guy doesn't take the case (am wondering if she will be honest with him about the fact I'm fully paid up $12,000+ worth & everything else that's gone on). But anyway, if he doesn't take the case, I will just find someone else. I'm done. She's like X in a dress...
Well, 3 days and still no answer from the new L. I tried to get hold of him today, but wasn't able to. He has my work number also. I guess I'll start calling around tomorrow.
Another nasty email from X. He emailed yesterday I needed to take D10 to get her glasses an afternoon this week or this weekend. Funny thing is I'm pretty sure he knows I'm working on the play this week; Jamie told him she was helping out last week (handing out the programs), so just did that to be nasty I guess. I emailed back I wasn't able to this week b/c of a commitment I made several months ago. I would gladly take her next week to check her eyes (she wears glasses and it's been 18 months since her last appt.), or if he wanted her sooner he could take her an afternoon this week or Monday and Tuesday next week, whichever he prefers.
He emailed back today: What I would prefer is you doing your part, and not letting your social plans come before your children's needs. You've already refused to take them to medical appts. I'll tell her you will take her next week.
Boy he sure likes being an a$$. Sorry he is still just as mean and spiteful as before. I was really hoping(dreaming?) that he would get nicer once he got what he wanted. Or maybe the reality is that he isn't happier now and has to blame you for that too! What a loser!!
hugs, kat
Me-53(and learning!) S24, S21, D18, D17 Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming. Dory
