Need advice!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2008
Need advice!
4
Mon, 08-25-2008 - 7:09pm
Colorado legal services finally returned my call and unfortunately they cannot represent me. I qualify- it's just that according to the lady they have too many cases and could not fit me in. So where does that leave me? I cannot afford a lawyer- the lowest priced lawyer I could find wants $1500 retainer and $500 a month for the following 2 months. Great- except I only make $1200 a month. The anger I feel at my STBX is on a whole new level. He so selfishly took $3000 from his parents (which he will never pay back) then put me in this situation. He's beyond a jerk and I hope the bad karma he has coming hits hard. Instead of dreaming of a reconciliation, I dream of the judge awarding me a ridiculous amount of child support and alimony. All I know is I fighting mad now. Has anyone ever gone to a pre-conference hearing without a lawyer? Am I screwed without a lawyer? What the heck do I do?!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-18-2007
In reply to: mandi_d_o
Mon, 08-25-2008 - 10:05pm

Mandi,


Have you looked at the "do it yourself divorce" sites that explain the ins and outs of divorce in Colorado?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2008
In reply to: mandi_d_o
Tue, 08-26-2008 - 2:21pm
Thanks so much for the input. We found two lawyers who offered their services. One will charge $1500 for a retainer and $500 for 2 months. The other lawyer is my parents lawyer. He lives in another town roughly 100 miles away, but he said he will not charge me a retainer and allow me to make payments monthly. The drawback is that I would still need to cover travel expenses and not have a lawyer who could be immediately available. As far as my job situation goes, I live in a small, blue collar town and $10 an hour is actually considered a well paying job. Though I am in school pursuing my BS in Psychology. It's funny, because I never understood how women allowed themselves to be put in situations in which their marriages ending left them in a bind, and now here I am. I put off school for several years to be a FT stay at home Mom, and just went back to work and school full-time last October. I could go on and on about the "unfairness" of it all but I realize that doesn't help me. It's a shame that money talks in regards to the legal system. One lawyer I consulted also told me that my STBX and his slime ball lawyer likely petitioned for primary residency of our daughter as a "bargaining chip". It makes me sick that this man I shared so much with, turned into the proverbial Jeckyl and Hyde, and is plotting ways to manipulate me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-18-2007
In reply to: mandi_d_o
Mon, 09-01-2008 - 1:07am

Mandi,


Sorry for not getting back to you sooner but I've been away for a few days.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2008
In reply to: mandi_d_o
Mon, 09-01-2008 - 2:32pm
Goddess-
Thanks so much for the support! Since I last posted I have retained an attorney. He's actually working with STBX's attorney on several other divorce cases, which makes me feel so much more confident. After my meeting with my lawyer, I have become aware that STBX has violated 3 of the 4 Automatic Temporary Injunctions. He took 2300 out of our joint account, has continued to harass me and has sent me hundreds of texts messages (I even called the police, they called him and asked him to stop, and filled out a report, said if it continues to file a restraining order) and he called the HR lady where I work (he used to work there too) and took my daughter off my insurance and put her on his, no doubt for some type of tax or financial gain for himself. Unfortunately, because of the long weekend, I won't be able to contact my attorney until tomorrow. I don't know what him violating these injunctions means, has anyone ever been in this situation? I think I'm finally starting to get out of the grief stage, although sometimes I feel sadness, I realized I haven't missed or longed for him once. I've just had to adjust to being alone, and I'm finally staying to enjoy this. He wanted and filed for divorce, and that can be a painful thing when someone leaves you, but I'm starting to see it as a blessing. Also, his stubbornness and inability to take responsibility is actually starting to benefit me, I hope when a judge see how hostile, immature, and selfish he is, it will only help me.