I would definitely stay on the appraiser about the extra 700 square feet. You should be able to google your place and find out the exact square footage and present that to your lawyer and let him do the dirty work of getting that appraiser on the phone and back out there to remeasure. Sometimes, our wayward spouses will hire someone that the know and have them inflate the price, etc. Better to get this straightened out now.
As for his lawyer, his lawyer knows that your h is out to lunch and he's going to continue working for him because it's a lot of billable hours for him. Of course, he's going to listen and do whatever your h wants because it's more money in his pocket. Some lawyers have no shame in taking advantage of people. He may have worked a deal w/your h that he will get paid once everything is settled. No one knows what kind of deal they struck.
You need to be asking your lawyer who is the best option for you. Listen to what he has to say and them mull it over.
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.
