Disclaimer: I know that there are lawyers on this board. Before you get all offended, understand that I am making a generalization. After all, my best friend knew a guy who heard of a lawyer that was ok.
As some of you may know, I am going through a marital seperation. It is as amicable as such things can be. Equal division of property and debt, shared custody, no child support, no alimony. Here is my issue (one of them anyways.) We wanted to make sure our separation paperwork was legal, so we contacted the Family Court to see if they would go over it, or assign a mediator. They said no, we must retain our own attorney. OK, that sucks, becuase it is money spent on basically nothing, but no big deal. So, we contacted an attorney. He refused to mediate or review our paperwork, said that he can represent one, but not both of us, as it is a potential conflict of interest. Once again, OK, that sucks, more money spent on nothing, but I can deal with it. So, each of us consulted our own attorney, simply to make sure everything was legal, and make everything as smooth as possible. Both of us walked out on our own consultations, because each lawyer wanted us to get down and dirty with the each other to get as much as we can, we don't want to get "What we can." What we have agreed to is fair. I told my attorney that no, I do not want to put the woman I have spent more than half of my lfie with through the wringer, I just want to make sure what we are doing is legal. He looked at me and asked me how I will feel about another man raising my daughter!! I got up a left after giving serious contemplation to knocking his teeth into the back of his throat.
I know why they did what they did. They get a lot of more money out of a long, bloody divorce than a simple parting of ways with good wishes on both sides. I wonder how many lives are ruined by these fiends. How many couples may have reconciled or at least been amicable without that influence. How many children have been affected by witnessing vicious battles between bitter parents because a lawyer took someone in a fragile emotional state and gave them that extra little nudge and it turned ugly, just so they could make a little extra cash.
I know that we each choose our own path, and are ultimately responsible for our own actions, but outside influences can change our perceptions, especially when we are going through one of the most painfull times imagineable. I hope those blood suckers are held accountable for their influence, and their greed.
Luckily, my wife and I have strong enough personalities to not let ourselves be bullied. We have completed our own paperwork and will file on our own. Maybe I could get more money, and less debt. Maybe I could get full custody. Bottom line is I don't
need more money, and it would cause my wife hardship. Also, she's a great mother, and what happens in our relationship, has nothing to do with their relationship, why would I want to take my daughter away from her, if I don't have to?
WylieKy