The lawyer works for you. Find one you feel comfortable with. Trust your instincts. Do they sound competent, truthful, experienced? Or are they like a stereotypical used car salesman (not disrespect to any car sales personnel out there) promising you incredible riches and a quick resolution?
This is just business. You lawyer’s belief or knowledge of MLC is not a requisite for their services. The lawyer knows and understands the business of separation and divorce, the legal side, and ramifications of it. That is what you are paying for. Keep the business side business.
The people here know MLC and what you are going through. Post, vent, question, journal, tell of your accomplishments, tell of your falls - we’ve all been there. These are some very fine and compassionate folks with much hard earned and sage wisdom.
Originally Posted by Kindly
...how do I get them to understand the confusion and messed up timelines?
Just stick to the fact. Those are all that really matter in the courts anyhow.
Show the L the timeline of events. What and when. If you live in a place like me where it is no fault divorce then the why has absolutely no effect on any default rulings. However, if you do get into a negation with H, his desires can be leveraged for gains - like custody.
Us going on and on about our spouse to our lawyer just racks up chargeable hours. You can tell all that to a IC for a lot less than the lawyer hourly rate.
Maybe you’ll get lucky, my L was a flat fix fee. $4000 for a separation agreement; all the title investigation, mortgage transfers, bank accounts, credit cards, car ownership documents, house deed, homesteader release, pension, alimony, child support, etc.. and all the back and forth negotiating until a signed agreement or the need to go to court. After that point it would be $300/hour.
That is how my lawyer laid it out for me. Straight forward, no bull.
Document everything. Keep track of events, and bill payments, incomes, etc...
You are shopping for a lawyer and gaining information on your rights. Investigating the worst case, best case, and most likely case. You can pull the trigger later if needed; and you will know which L to go to.
DnJ
Feelings are fleeting. Be better, not bitter. Love the person, forgive the sin.
