Question
My husband and I are talking about getting a divorce after six years of marriage. We don’t have any children, and he thinks we can do it ourselves. What do you think?
Answer
Doing your own divorce makes can make sense and save you money in certain circumstance. For example, if your divorce meets these standards, it may be possible to perform it yourselves without the help of an attorney who will charge you an hourly rate:
- Your divorce case is not complicated
- Your marriage was of short duration
- You and your spouse have no substantial assets
- You have no minor children
- You and your spouse can reach a fair and amicable settlement yourselves
If you or your spouse own a business, have hard-to-value assets, are engaged in other legal proceedings, or have assets which are not clearly either separate or marital property, you have a complicated divorce on your hands and will need the help of an attorney skilled in family law matters. You definitely will want specialized advice if one of you is in bankruptcy, or is headed that way.
Even if you do your own divorce, you may need help from a professional such as an accountant, financial adviser, mortgage broker, real estate agent, banker, mediator, and others. There are many decisions that you must make that will affect your financial future, and in your emotional state you may not be thinking clearly about your situation.
Several unusual situations can make divorce more costly, frustrating and time-consuming, including having a spouse out of state, out of the country or out of his mind. Divorce may also be complicated if one of you is in the military service or is a non-resident alien. And as much as you may wish it at times, divorce can become devastatingly complicated if your spouse dies during the proceedings.
Think carefully about your situation. Hiring a divorce attorney will add costs to your divorce, but an attorney can also save you a significant amount of money by helping you accurately identify your assets and develop a favorable settlement strategy.
Still not sure if you should hire a divorce attorney? You can get some great advice and learn more about what a divorce attorney does by attending a Second Saturday Divorce Workshop in your area.
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I live in Nj with My husband of 32 years and he wants a divorce because I upset he too much. He had a nervous breakdown about a year ago and is in counseling. I can’t talk to him about anything stressful. The other day I asked him to modify his W4 because we were going to owe money to IRS and he freaked out on me telling me I am being abusive. Are children are grown and we have a house and 2 vehicles. There is debt on house and one car. I believe we will have money after selling house. I am willing to give him proceeds of sale of house after we pay for our daughter’s wedding because I want to be done with dealing with him. I estimate it to be ~75k and I will take on other debt such as kids school loans and his 2018 truck that is ~$48k. My car is a 2010 Honda CrV with almost 200k miles and is paid off. We both work but I make more than him. He has a union job with a pension and I am willing to give him half my 403b too. I just don’t want to have to pay support too. I am going to have to pay for my other daughter’s wedding in a year or so and move to an apartment. I also help my 3 kids financially when I can. He should be able to by a small house with the proceeds and have a small mortgage. Because I make more money than him will I still have to pay support? I would like to be able to eventually step back in my work position since it is a very stressful job and I have to work many days 10 to 12hours. And if I have to pay support I may not be able to afford an apartment and help my kids if I take a less stressful job. Thanks for you help
We are not attorneys and we are not familiar with the laws of your state, so I don’t have the answer for you. Sorry.
I’m dating a guy who is trying to file for divorce and were not sure which way to file. He and said future ex wife are going to file jointly, making it easy and she brought a minor child into the relationship. He didn’t adopt the child, do they file with minor children or without?
They will list the dependent children that either of them has.
I decided to file for divorce after 10 years of marriage from my husband. He has hidden the keys to the more reliable vechile since he claims it’s his. While I am driving the older vehicle which has issues. Will I get the more reliable vehicle since I am the one who transport the 3 kids everywhere. He is paying the loan so how will that work?
Talk to your attorney about how such disputes are treated in your state.
My ex and I are filing for a divorce and we have a 17 year old daughter and legally she’s still considered a minor. Is it against the law to file uncontested no minor children if I’m not seeking child support.
Thank you.
I’m sorry, but we aren’t attorneys and can’t give you legal advice, such as what is against the law. But I can’t see that lying and saying that you have no minor children when you do would be in compliance with the law — can you?
My ex and I divorced 8 months ago. Married for 16. He signed the house over to me. He offered a $$ amount for child support and alimony that I agreed with. We also worked out a 70/30 split for our 1 child. He wanted to DIY the divorce. I hired a mediation lawyer to help with the paper work and file for us. We were in agreement with everything, signed and filed. Now he wants to take me back to court and rework everything. I don’t want to give up anything that he offered or that we agreed to. Do we go to mediation or arbitration? He has since remarried and also received a raise at work. Is this possible?
Ask your attorney whether the agreements that you’ve made to date are valid. If they are, then he may not have any grounds under the laws of your state to take you back to court to redo the property settlement.
I am going through a divorce in Texas. We currently only have a rule 11 and only he has a lawyer. His lawyer wrote up the 36 page final decree (I have a copy) but will not have it signed by the judge until he pays the rest of his balance with the lawyer. Nothing in the divorce is contested. Can he fire (file a motion to withdraw) his lawyer and then I can either print out the free divorce packet online or rewrite the 36 page final decree (because is has a “draft” watermark), as I I have been waiting for several months? thank you!
I don’t know anything about legal procedure for filing and judgment in Texas (or any other state for that matter — we are not attorneys)
My husband and I have not lived together for over 28 years, our son is a grown man. I wish to file for a divorce and there is no property to divide. The only thing I have or will have when I retire is my pension my life insurance and my 401K–all which I plan to leave to my son. Can he claim any of that ? If I can get him to sign a document saying he waivers any claim to it and will the courts acknowledge this? We both live in different states have so for at least 20 years.
The laws of each state are different, so check with an attorney in your state to see what the laws provide. In general, assets accumulated during the marriage are marital property, but if he is willing to give up his right to those assets, he is probably able to do so.
NEED HELP! So if course no lawyer really will help,considering the fact that my marriage is a gay marriage. Two woman. My spouse is in the military, so it has been extremely hard trying to find a lawyer that will help with the divorce. Maybe this is the wrong website. But is there any way for me to divorce in the state of Texas (quick and easy) when the marriage took place in Tennessee?
The place you were married doesn’t have any bearing, it is the state in which you reside and file for divorce that grants you the divorce.
My husband of 25 years has bought a trailer and will be leaving soon. We are senior citizens with no children, no community property, no debts and no bills together. I would like to terminate the marriage as I suffer from cancer and he had a 5 way heart bypass last year. I cannot be responsible for his health any longer if he leaves me. I have to worry about my own support system with cancer. We each have our own pensions to financially support ourselves separately. Will I be able to file for myself in this case, he has said he’ll sign the papers. He’ll be leaving soon so I need to do this quickly.
Thank you!
Each state is different. I’m sure you can begin the process by filing appropriate paperwork, and then any final paperwork will have to be in whatever format the court requires.
I’ve hired an attorney however my attorney appears to be working for my estranged husband and I need to fire the attorney. I’ve began the divorce preceding but it appears that my attorney who l’ve hire appears to be working against me, rather than for me. I’very Paid him over $1,500 to represent me however I don’t know what’s going on with my case because the attorney fails in communication skills. Can I fire my attorney and pick up where he left off at the case has not been heard in front of a judge.
You are always free to fire your attorney and represent yourself.
You are always free to fire your attorney and represent yourself.
Been married a little over two years and want a divorce. We have a seven year old and now also a 4 month old. We lived in his place of residence until about 6 months ago when I purchased a home. We have no joint assets or accounts and his legal residence is at his home where his mail, etc. goes. He says he will not contest but I don’t believe him – whats the best way to go about filing for a divorce? I am worried about the house I purchased for myself and our children because it was acquired during the marriage.
You can get documents online or at the county clerk’s office to fill out and file for divorce. You will probably want to see an attorney to find out how the laws work in your state regarding the house and assets acquired during the marriage.
I’ve have been married for 8 months and unfortunately wanting a divorce. I was single for 15 years raising my son which is now 17 yrs old, this is my first marriage and his second. I married my son’s father’s after 15 yrs later. He has children from his previous married, but the real reason I want a divorce he got physical with me and threw me out of the house because he says he got frustrated and upset. I don’t want any problems with him, I just want out. They say once they get physical with you once, they will do it again which I nor my son deserve this at all! Don’t want anything from him, besides nothing is under my name anyway. I can’t afford an attorney so any suggestions? What can I do? Thank you.
You can contact the courthouse and see if there’s a simplified divorce process for someone who wasn’t married for very long and hasn’t accumulated much in property during the marriage.
Hi,
My husband is an active duty Army National Guard. We’ve been married 10 years this month. We have a 6 and 4 years old and a 6 month old baby. He suffers from PTSD and has become emotionally abusive (and physical abusive at times). He also has a porn addiction that has ruined our intimacy. I’ve caught him a few times in the act. I’m ready to leave him, but I want to get full custody and supervised visitations. I’m afraid for my kids. In addition, he has never taken care of them alone since they were born. He doesn’t help me around the house, except for the dishes because I basically told him he needed to pick a chore. I’m a SAHM, and I also homeschool. I haven’t been working for 9 years and didn’t finished my school. We have a lot of debt, including student loans, and credit cards. He also owes the VA disability pay that he shouldn’t have revived. We have a house and 2 cars. We are paying one of the cars and the other one it’s a gift from his dad. We are located in GA. I’m afraid he’s going to try to play dirty, he always lies to me. He’s accused me of saving money on a different account, and I haven’t. Although, I took $700 to pay for the divorce and he went crazy about it. After this he just changed all the bank accounts passwords. His buddy suggested him “to let me keep the $700 and keep the next paycheck” to himself. So I’m afraid he’ll just do that. Now, I’m also getting suspicious that he might be actually saving some extra money, for the way he’s reacting. All I want is for this to be over and be able to move on with my life. The kids and I just started family counseling, because of the abuse. My husband and I are meeting soon to get to an agreement of everything we have and everything we owe. I’ve been trying to work with him and want to end this as peacefully as possible but I want to make sure our agreement is fair for everyone, specially the kids. I’m also planning on moving away. So what’s fair to ask for? I know I’ll get child support, I have no idea of how much alimony can I get. Am I entitled to a percentage of his retirement? He wants to keep the house, but I don’t. I would also like to be able to finish my college degree. He suggested bankruptcy, how would that play for both of us? My lawyer is asking for $1000 if we get to agree on everything. But if we end up taking it to court then it will start at $3000…if my husband keeps the whole paycheck there’s no way I’ll be able to afford that. If I would get a loan to cover the lawyer expenses can I ask for my husband to cover for them since I don’t have an income? I know there’s so many questions, but I really appreciate all the help I can get.
You have a lot of questions about what you are entitled to, so your first step is to see an attorney and get those questions answered. Once you know, you’ll be able to plan what to do.
My husband filed for divorce in one county but she sent me paper work asking for my bank account info and retirement. Why would she need that? We have no kids or assets together. I think she is trying to get money out of me… We have only been married for 6 years and have been separated now for 4 years. She wants me to sign paper work I don’t feel she need to know. Need help!
You’ll need to ask your attorney about your obligation to furnish financial records under the laws of your state.
The man owed and owes student loans and taxes prior to marriage .My friend was gainfully employed and purchased her home before the marriage – which is not community property – they do not have any joint accounts, she has been a dedicated housewife raising their 3 children. and have not been gainfully employed for 10 plus years. Due to irreconcilable differences, she feels that he would re-learn to appreciate her if they were divorced. He is willing to have an uncontested divorce but stated to her that she will risk a lien being placed on her home due his taxes and school loans, that he will provide child support but is not willing to give alimony (this is a alimony state) – I tried looking in the state laws to see where a unemployed wife incurs husbands prior and current debts to no prevail. Is this true or is he pulling a scare tactic.
The worst person to take legal advice from is your soon to be ex-spouse. She should consult an attorney who knows the laws of her state to guide her.
I’ve been married for over 22 yrs and separated for 18yrs without seeing him or knowing his whereabouts . He moved out 18yrs ago and haven’t seen or heard of him since. We don’t have any children or anything that ties us together. How do I get a signature for the divorce?
Ask an attorney how to go about getting a divorce in your state. You also might get information at the court clerk’s office.
How do i get a divorce in michigan my spouse is dead we have no children
You cannot sue someone for divorce who is dead.
I was living with my husband. In ga with his mom. And he told me to get out. And I left. And I was expecting a child. And I been trying for three yes. But he won leave his mom. And. I don’t no where he is. But I want a devoice
We have been married for 2,5 years, we have been living together for 8’years. Most of that time i didn’t work or worked as a nanny making $300 a week. Everything we have (cars, apartment) he bought before marriage. I want divorce but I am worried how i will survive with little money I make if I have to rent a room. Can I get some support from him? where can I find an affordable/ free lawyer? ( the reason for divorce is his alcoholism and we live in ny). Thank you
Call your local bar association and ask how to find an attorney when you are of modest means. They should have a panel of attorneys that are lower cost, though I doubt you’ll find someone who will work for free. Attorneys need income too.
I live in Texas. Have been married since 2005. Have been separated since Dec of 2013. We have 3 children together, but already have a custody agreement in place through the attorney general. We both want the divorce and agree to division with no contest. Can I file for the divorce on my own?
I don’t know anything about Texas law, but in most states you can file your own papers without an attorney.
Me and my wife is headed for divorce her 401k is larger then mine and we got a loan out right now its sitting in her bank I co-sign for the loan to get her a house If I file for divorce can I stop her from spending the money up so I want get any of it
You could ask her to put it into an account that requires both of your signatures to withdraw money. As for filing for divorce, ask your attorney whether the bank could be served restraining orders to keep her from withdrawing the funds.
Thank you for the reply. Although he owe me support, will it be affect the chance of getting custody of my girls if I cannot support myself and the children. Even if I can find a job, it is hard to earn a decent pay as he get. ( he is in engerineer professional but I am not in any area) if I want to move to other states because of the high living standard in Bay area, can I take the girls with me?
Thank you so much again.
Hi, my husband and I recently talked about getting divorce. We have married for 10 yrs and have 2 girls, I am a house keeper. I am 37 yrs old and haven’t work since moved to California in 2010. We bought a house last December and it is under both of our names. We put almost all the saving to buy the house. If we sell it now, probably won’t make any profits. If we decide not to sell the house yet, should he pay the mortgage after the divorce as I have no job? Does he have to pay for the living for me and the girls? If I find a job after getting divorce, does it affect the alimony I get?
Thank you so much.
The one who lives in the house is generally the one who pays the mortgage and other expenses, in lieu of paying rent. He will probably owe you support since you are not working and he is. But you may be imputed with the income that you could earn if you were working, especially when final support is set in the divorce. If you go to work and earn more than that, support could be reduced by a portion of those earnings.
I live in Mississippi me and my wife have been married for eight years …she left me a year ago with all the bills got everything out her name. Than all of a sudden she came back its been three months and I realized I do not love her, I want a divorce… We have no children together I told her to leave but she want … Can I get a divorce in peace …we don’t have anything together the house is in my name i
Talk to an attorney about the divorce process and what the rules are in your state regarding the house and support.
I have been married to my husband now 15 years..I left and took a job in Tennessee 3 years ago.My spouse would not allow me to take my children. I am now established and want a divorce. I don’t want the rented house. I want my children to live with me. My relationship with my husband grew apart.
Hi my name is Sarah.im been married with my husband past 8 years I’m 40 years and his 46 years old I have 1 child who’s 3 years old. He’s working in restaurants as a server and making good money I want a divorce from him I work very hard before baby and he used to take care all financial things and I blindly trust him I work of the book all the time so cash that I give him and his we had a saving account together when he found that I might give him divorce sooner then later he took all the money out from the joint account and Hyde some where witch I don’t know where but I don’t have any proof that’s my money in there too how I’m going to get that and I don’t have any property together it he has lots of property in different countries I don’t know if that’s on his name we just rent here he take cares all the bills and all I don’t have any physical relationship with him past 4 years I don’t even know if he’s cheating on me how do I file the divorce and I need your help what can I do he’s really mantle torched me and is affecting my baby. I call police to one time but that didn’t do nothing you think if i go to court court will tell me to leave house or him? I want him to be out what should I do?
You’ll need to talk to an attorney to get legal advice about how the laws work in your state, and what the court would do.
After 13 years of marriage my husband walked out on me and our four children stating he wants to divorce…I filed child supported which was granted and his now paying.. He now states he wants to come home but I would like to go ahead abs file for the divorce.. I don’t mind if we have joint custody but the kids are with me and living with, we just started every other weekend and all I want is the family vehicle as the kids are with me 85% of the time.. How simple would it to file on my own?
You can probably find the paperwork online to file, or you can use a paralegal or a program such as LegalZoom.
I want to file my own divorce papers without a lawyer because it would be cheaper but my husband has a retirement plan. I don’t want any of it. Is there any kind of paperwork I can fill out or something so I wouldn’t have to get a lawyer?
If you give up assets to which you are entitled, such as a retirement plan, your divorce will be quite expensive even if you file your own papers, because you will have forfeited thousands of dollars. Please consult with an attorney to get their advice before you do anything. You can still prepare your own papers, but you need to be making informed decisions.
By that I mean, how it would work to move out. I don’t think I can pack up a child and move him with me.
Hello Ginita, thank you so much for creating this site. My situation is as follows, I stopped working when I got pregnant and since stayed home to take care of my son. He is now two years old. I want to get a divorce. I would like to know the best course of action to ensure I get custody of him. Do I need to look for a job? And if so, get him into day care now? We own a house. I have a degree and can find work. I also have my own savings account. I would love to still take care of my son until he goes to preschool, but I want to make sure I can have custody of him. Another question is, filing for separation or divorce while we are still living in the same place? He doesn’t want to leave, and I don’t have the means to find my own place. I don’t know even if I did how it would work with a small child. I live in California.
Talk to an attorney as soon as you can about how custody and child support work in your jurisdiction, and what would be required of you. Generally both parents are awarded legal custody and then the child’s time is split between the parents in whatever way is in the best interests of the child.
I have a question on doing a divorce on our own. My soon to be ex went to speak to a lawer and know says that we had to have parenting classes and that the judge is going to throw our case out because we didnt do this before our court date, I didnt know anything about a class. Is this correct?
I’m sorry, but I don’t know about what is required by the courts in your state.
My spouse filied for a divorce we have not yet been married for ten years is he still entitled to half my 401k
In most states, the contributions to 401(k) and other retirement plans and earnings on those contributions are marital property and can be divided.
I live in California and was with my husband since the age of 14 and he was 20. We got married when I turned 21 and were married for 11 years before we separated in 2011. We never had kids and most of our marriage I was a homemaker because he made good money and said that if I worked we would owe too much back in taxes. When we separated I left with only my clothes and the car that we had which he continued to pay until it broke down 8 months after I left. He also paid me $600 a month for the first 2 years which helped, but was nothing compared to how I was used to living with him. Now he has filed the divorce papers and I’m not looking for spousal support, but he sent the MSA (Marriage Settlement Agreement) papers and he is requesting that I don’t receive any of his retirement and only half of the community furnishings which he got rid of when he moved to a new place without asking me if I wanted any of it. I’m wondering if it would be foolish of me to sign this document and walk away with nothing after all of these years. He also dropped me from his health benefits without my knowledge leaving me with none. Am I entitled to Anything here?
Of course it would be foolish to walk away from your share of the community assets, without receiving anything in return. Consult an attorney immediately to ascertain your rights as a result of the 11 year marriage.
My Husband of 4 years wants a divorce. No Kids, no large assets besides a car. I do not want to divorce for emotional, and religious reasons, but he has given up and does not want to try any more. He is an engineer and has made good money in the past and has the potential to make good money in the future. I was a student and homemaker prior to this school year, I started my first year teaching in September. He was laid off from his job and is currently a student working on his masters & a teachers assistant at his university. He has a small income and they pay for his classes. I am working now and making more than him. However, he has signed an Engineering job offer to start in June in Texas in which he will make 85,000 a year, double what I will ever make as a teacher.
What do i deserve as far as compensation? I expect half of our savings/what we have in the bank, and my only other concerns are 1) our car we just paid off, 2) a loan that i took out while we were married, 3) spousal support?
1) Car: We just paid off our car a few months ago…we paid for it mostly with the money he earned while he worked & I went to school & took care of hte house. I feel that I should get the car because I am the primary signer because I had better credit than him at the time, I have a full time job right now that i need reliable transportation for, and because of his career/income, he will be able to buy another car a lot sooner than I ever will be able to. are these valid reasons I should keep the newer car? (also I have an older year 2000 car that i brought into the marriage, he can keep that if i get the newer one)
2) My loan. I have student loans of $11,000. I came into hte marriage with 5,500. Then while i was continuing school while he worked, he wanted me to get another loan offered 5,500. We did not need it, he made enough to be able to eaisly pay for my classes. The thing is that as a teacherm I can get these loans repaid after i work for 5 years as a teacher. so we have not paid them. he took a loan to under his name…that we did not need, but paid it back right away, but not mine. Can I legally ask him to pay my loan…or at least 1/2 of it i got while we were married? What if I don’t teach for 5 years…or I change careers, I will have this unnecessary loan I need to take care of. and that is not fair :(.
3) Spousal support. Yes I am currently making more money than he is, but prior to this, most of the time we were married he was making good money as an engineer & has a guaranteed job starting in June earning about 3,800 every 2 weeks. I earn 3,770 a month, for 10 months, so as a teacher I WILL NOT BE RECEIVING A CHECK FOR 2 MONTHS IN THE SUMMER. When we asked for either 10 months or 12 months of a check we said 10 because we decided that he would have an income in the summer to cover those months & we will be fine. Yes he was laid off, and we do have a good savings, but he has been benefiting from my income these months that I have been working. Remember this is his choice to throw away 4 years of marriage, and I am devastated and don’t want to divorce :(. I have taken care of our apartments, cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning (including taking out the trash…he hardly ever, ever does it 🙁 ) bills… (no im not perfect and have made some mistakes and not always always on top of everything, but im human & was studying & now teaching full time).
-Do I deserve spousal support for those 2 months I won’t have a check (mid june to mid august) when he will have a good job. & am I deserving of more because we were married for 4 years and he is leaving me?
Those are my main concerns, if I can determine what I am deserving of, he would like to do it without a lawyer so that we can not waste any of it in legal fees.
Another point, he is very verbally abusive & was physically abusive a few times, I reported him & he is currently going through the process/court dates… he has one more. So that should factor in to what I am deserving of.
Located in California
…Also he applied for permanemt resedency in the US through me after we were married for 2 years, and is now a citizen of the US.
The laws of each state are different. Talk to an attorney about whether your state gives you 50% or a different amount of assets, whether it considers abuse as a factor, and how it treats student loans.
I was forced by this bloke to accept his customary proposals of getting married , I was stupid to go ahead with it..
he had an accident and got his leg amputated , as a young lady , I want a husband who will/is capable of looking after me, I do not want to be a sitter all my life..
we stayed for only 6months , I moved out and am on my own , he still bothers me with all sorts of threatening emails, I said to file a divorce and he said that if one does not agree to leave , the divorce will not take place.
Please I need assistance here…..
In most states you do not need to agree in order to get a divorce. Talk to an attorney about the laws in your state.
My question is regarding uncontested divorces.
My wife and i will be married for 10 years at the end of the month, we have been seperated for over 2 years and i am wanting to file for divorce. I cannot afford a fancy atty and would love to get the packet and do it myself.
Should i just come right out and ask her if this will work for us?
I have a pension i am paying into and so does she, as far as i’m concerned i want nothing from her i just want this to be done but i don’t know if she is gonna want to fight over anything.
She has a great job and so do i…i look at it like leave my retirement and ssi alone and i’ll leave yours alone
Make sense?
How do i ask her if this will work?
Honesty is the best party. Let her know what you are thinking and see what she says.
I need help. I have a young person who married this guy when she was 19 to help him get his green card. Now he has stop supporting her. She wants to get a divorce what are her options. He makes a decent salary and i would imagine an 401K.
Please advise thanks
Each state is different, so you’ll need to contact an attorney or the clerk at the courthouse to find out the rules in your state.
My husband left me approx. a year ago. We have been married for 29 years and I have been a stay at home mom, for all of those years. We live in NC and the state requires a year separation before filing. It has now been one year and he is getting ready to file. He has refused to negotiate, concerning alimony(which I am entitled to), so I need to retain an attorney but I am currently unemployed> He has been supporting me since we separated. But what he gives me pays living expenses. I have no savings or liquid cash. I have no family to loan me money. But I need money to retain an attorney to protect my rights. Is there a way to get a loan even though I am unemployed and receiving spousal support?
Call your local division of your State Bar Association and ask them if there is legal help available for people in your position. An attorney may be willing to take your case and petition the court to get your husband to pay toward your legal fees, since he has income and you do not.
I have known my husband for 10 years but we have only been married for almost one. Long story short, since we got married he has become emotionally abusive and controlling. I have no access to any of our financial information. He has managed to successfully isolate me from friends and family and has considerably lowered my self esteem. He also refused to work and made large purchases using student loans and the money I had earned. I’m ready to call it quits. I have been thinking about divorce for several months but wanted to make sure I did everything I could to repair our relationship before I contacted an attorney. I even suggested marriage counseling but he refused to go. I was going to ask for a divorce the day after our one year anniversary which just happens to be next week. Last week he got into a motorcycle accident. He does not have health insurance. Will I be responsible for half of this debt when the divorce is finalized?q
You’ll need to seek the advice of an attorney to see what your legal obligations are.
Im in California , and divorcing a police officer after 17 years . He wants to low ball me on my spousal support and doesn’t want to share his retirement .
Thing is both he and I have paid my attorney and feel that she have been the worst part of this divorce . I feel like its a lot of time wasted on her behalf and billed for me sitting in her office while she look for papers.
Now we may have to go to trail and she is saying i don’t have enough money to go to trail . My ex makes so much more money then I and is ready to go to trail. I feel like Im getting the short end of the stick because my attorney is lazy and over billed me .
I want to fire her but I don’t have the money for a new attorney . I feel like I’m being bullied by my ex cop husband and my attorney .
can I stop the proceeding until i can get money to gather for a Help?
You can ask for a continuance, which the court may or may not grant. Also, you can request a settlement conference prior to going to court — most cases settle there.
HI.
I’M ALSO MARRIED TO A POLICE OFFICER 10 YEARS NOW AND THINKING OF GETTING A DIVORCE.
WHAT AM I ENTITLED TO? I’M A STAY AT HOME MOM & WE HAVE AN ADOPTED 8 YR.OLD
You probably will be entitled to a portion of the police pension. Talk to an attorney about the laws in your state.
Will I also get child support/alimony? Aside from the pension.
I’ve been served papers, all I want is part of my husbands pension, I know I can file for ssi benefits when the time comes but do I need a lawyer for this process or can I file on my own,
You don’t need a lawyer to get social security when the time comes, that is by operation of federal law. You’ll need to find out from an attorney how the rules work in your state re your husband’s pension.
My husband asked me for a divorce in Dec. 2013. He has worked out of state(OR) for 5 yrs which helped to break up the marriage. I don’t have money for an attorney and have downloaded a divorce packet for a joint dissolution from the Montana law library. We own a small business(not paid for) and a modular home(which is underwater) he says I can have both. He has pensions, IRA’s, a few stock, life insurances and his job supplies our health insurance. I have about 30 thousand in retirement savings and a small life insurance policy. Is this too complicated for a person to take on themselves? It has become obvious to me he is leaving all the heavy lifting in this divorce to me.
Before you make a decision, you should visit an attorney to find out what you are entitled to under state law. But to me it sounds as though he is taking everything with value and leaving you with everything that is in debt and therefore not worth much.
My wife and i have been married 5 years. We got married while i was in prison. In the four years ive been home if she didnt pay for everything i gave her money to put in her account to cover it. I have sense decided i dont want children, so we are filing for divorce.
My question is can i ask for alimony? Can i use her attorney to get it or should i hire my own. This sounds crazy but we have really been a team. Im not prepared to be on my own, all my money has gone into the business i was trying to create. It hasnt become profitable yet.
We have a house
Furniture and lawn equipment purchased specifically for me to use or earn money with. She has all the receipts, it all looks like it belonged to her. I just dont know what to do, i use that equipment for a lawn srrvice and snow blowing. Is she really gonna get it all?
Marital property acquired during the marriage is divided in some way in divorce in most states, and many states have provisions for alimony, though if you are able to earn a living there would probably be a fair wage imputed to you. But each state is different, so you’ll have to contact an attorney to find out the law in your state. If your wife has an attorney, that attorney can speak to you with your wife’s permission, but remember, he is employed by her, not you.
Hello and thanks for your help. I have been married for 25 years. We have no children. Marriage was okay at first but steadily declined. He has always had control of the money. We have never had a joint account on anything, even a checking account; everything is in his name. There is so much to tell but I won’t go into it here. But after so many years of rotten behavior, I did research and found that he fits the profile perfectly of someone with narcissistic personality disorder. I have always felt sorry for him and have stayed with him because I cared for him, but I just recently realized that he doesn’t love me at all; in fact I believe he hates me. Just a little background. I worked as a medical transcriptionist for 25 years; however, that job is no longer viable (done now by machines, electronic medical record). We live in Tennessee where there are no jobs. I’ve sent hundreds of resumes and applications to no avail. I’ve asked if we could move so I could find work but he only does thinks that are expedient for himself. But I still listen to him constantly griping that I’m a no-good layabout because I don’t work. As it stands now, I am trapped. I am in the house 24/7, have no vehicle and have no money. He is not likely to give me any money to hire a lawyer for a divorce. He gives me 10 or 20 dollars every now and then. I am 58 years old and need to get established somewhere, somehow; I am afraid I will be on the street. I have no family to speak of. Having said all this, because we have no children and because the assets are pretty cut and dried – house (which he has already had offers on), he has a 401K, and we have a car that is worth some money, can’t I file for a divorce on my own with the assets just split down the middle? Tennessee is an equitable state. I don’t need spousal support if I can just take what is rightly mine and leave to go where I can find a job. I don’t want any furniture – he can have it all. However, I know that when it comes to money (which he thinks is all his and rightly so) and any kind of authority telling him what to do, his true nature comes out – that of the devil. Thanks again for any help you can offer.
If you and he are in agreement on all issues, you can have a paralegal draw up the papers. If not, then you’ll probably need to have a couple of mediation sessions to get things figured out. Since it is cut and dried it shouldn’t be difficult to resolve. But in most states you can’t just make a decision yourself and proceed, he’ll need to participate. If he won’t, then you’ll need to get a judge to decide the division.
I am 59 and in poor health, bypass and vascular surgery in 2013, and in need of other vascular and cervical surgery as soon as I have health insurance. My husband of 41 years has left to live with his girlfriend. He will be 62 next month and is working, although not making a great deal of money, I believe around $25k annually.
I have applied for SS Disability but have not received a determination. My husbands household consists of himself, the girlfriend who does receive SSD and also his sister who receives SSD. I receive temporary disability for three months at a time, and then have to re-apply and wait for approval (benefits are not paid during this wait time.)
He has asked for an uncontested divorce. We have no joint marital assets. He has threatened that if I ask for any support or maintenance he will cut off contact. My adult children agree with their father because he does not make a lot of money. But at times, like the end of this month I will have zero benefits until I hear from SSD. My medical bills are enormous and monthly RX costs exceed $400. I could not afford to continue COBRA.
Under this scenario do you fell I am entitled to maintenance, and any guess what that would be?
I’m hopelessly still praying for a reconciliation but I’m on my own with that wish. He continues to ask for an uncontested divorce and plans to marry the other woman.
I’m in disparate need of advice. Thank you.
You’ll need to talk to an attorney in your area about how much support you can expect — each state has different rules.
My husband left me over two years ago..I had no job no car nothing I cant afford a lawyer and I dont work now because I take care of my mother so Idk where to turn to or what to do can you help?
In many communities there is help available for those with limited means. Inquire at your local courthouse or call your local bar association.
My husband and I were married outside the US in 2008, I came to FL in 2009. We have lived together for 4years, we have no kids and I am a housewife. We have a property under both our names. I will ask for a divorce soon but I want to know if the property is going to be equally distributed between the two of us, knowing that I don’t have a job and I didn’t financially contribute in it.
The laws of each state are different, so you will need to consult an attorney in your area to be sure. In general, property in Fla is divided equally, according to this website: http://divorcesupport.about.com/od/usstatedivorcelaws/a/fla_laws.htm
My wife and I are seniors and have a wonderful personal relationship. We have been married for 34 years. We are facing the real potential of protracted financial difficulties due to my tax situation which could effect her dramatically creating financial hardship for her for many years to come and even long after my death. she has no direct connection or obligation to that tax situation. We have always lived separate financial lives and own nothing together. We live in California and the Community Property laws threaten her immediate income and her financial future if my tax situation goes South. Terminating our legal marriage is an option if it will help this situation. We have no minor children and could easily agree on terms. Do you feel this would be a possible solution.
You’ll need to consult a tax specialist to see what your best course of action is. That expert can assess your particular situation to see if a divorce would end your wife’s legal involvement in your tax problems.
My husband has a pension he says he needs every penny of – even though he is only 50 something, he retired from another job. He does not want me to have any of it, though I am raising our 14 year old daughter on a part time college professor salary. I did not ask for alimony or child support as I assumed I was entitled to part of his pension and eventual social security. We lived in NJ, but I am now living in NY with our daughter. I can’t really afford an attorney. Thanks.
You need to be able to live, either from the pension income or support, or both. You really must seek legal counsel.
I have been waiting for approximately 7 month for my ex to “correctly” fill out the judgement papers so our divorce can be finalized. He keeps saying that the courts keep sending back the papers to him with corrections needed. We have been going through a divorce for almost 5 years now and I the man I am currently seeing has been waiting patiently for a year to marry me. At this point I want to hire an attorney to finish the paper work but it almost seems pointless since everything is done, just his lack of competence. How can I speed up the process? By the way, we went through the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Thank you
You can request that your marital status be terminated, even if the final paperworrk isn’t yet done, which would enable you to remarry. And you can ask to see ( or take over) the paperwork process and where it stands.
What can you do if you and husband filed paperwork with court 30 yes ago to divorce and thought we were divorced.so I recently called to request copy because was going to remarry and they said they have no record of dissolution of marriage he remarried in 1987 and has children. I’m not sure where he is now. What can I do? We both moved on with our lives
You can go on as you have been, or you can file for divorce.
What happens if your ex SAYS he will agree to everything but then on the divorce paperwork lies about even working and where the kids really live?the lawyer can’t accept that paperwork right?or if they do the divorce will become contested?and what happens if the other party can’t or won’t hire an attorney?
These are questions you should ask your attorney. If your ex signs paperwork under penalty of perjury that you can show is not true, then the court will look very unfavorably on him. If you and he don’t agree on things, then your divorce is contested. If your ex won’t hire an attorney then he will be representing himself in the divorce action.
I want to file a divorce and I don’t want any things from him. We owned the house. What is the procedure for that. We don’t have kids.
You can get the papers to file from your local courthouse.
My husband and I have been married for almost 20 years. I was going to proceed with divorce, but then he got laid off from an academic institution that he worked at for almost 30 years. We hired an attorney to litigate his case to negotiate severance pay. This happened 1 week ago. So my question is, am I entitled to his severance? He will likely get a large sum of money. I’m self-employed and have not had any income for the last 6 months so he’s been in complete control of the money. In fact, he took everything out of our joint account and opened a personal account so that I don’t have any access. I have to ask him for money to buy every little thing, even a coffee. I feel stuck. What are my rights? He claims that everything is “his” money since I have not contributed to the money pot in 6 months. I’ve been selling my own stuff on eBay just to have a little cash.
Thank you for your help. I was going to do mediation, but this may be more complicated. I may need to hire an attorney, but I’m not sure how I can even pay for assistance when I have no access to funds.
Mediation still might be your best avenue. In mediation, the mediator can talk about your rights to share in the funds, his duty to support his family, and perhaps get him “calmed down” so he doesn’t hold the pursestrings so tight. You are likely entitled to part of the severance, either as a property distribution or as funds available to pay you support.
My husband suffers from bipolar. I dated him for 3 years and he was charming. It is certainly going to end in divorce as his behavior is difficult for me to deal with. I am facing major surgery in one month and he has the family health insurance policy through work. We live in Michigan. He is threatening to drop my coverage prior to surgery. Are there laws to prevent this until after the divorce?
I don’t know the laws in Michigan, so I don’t know whether he can discontinue your health insurance. But he is putting himself at financial risk if he does so. That’s because you are each responsible for the other’s support, care and debts. So if you have a major illness or injury, he is financially responsible. If and when one of you files for separation or divorce, then an automatic order will probably go into place against canceling any insurance until further court order.