divorce attorney

Anything you come into a marriage with IS yours, correct. If it appreciates during the marriage that is split.

Child support in NY is based on a formula. Cannot change that or fight over it. You can fight over the extras. Camp, afterschool costs, etc....

Maintenance is what is usually fought over and getting a degree or MD or JD, etc during the marriage does play into that fight. Argument is that the money spent for the degree was half his/hers, thus she/he should share in it. Your lawyer knows that this happens everytime. Should not have been shocked and should have prepared you for it.

Wife has new client this week, came from a mediation that blew up. Referred to her by the mediator.

One of the sides usually has a mental defect, spreading legs or doesn't think with the right head..........
 
Dave the amount of boating someone is going to be doing will change?
 
One thing to keep in mind is that most attorneys are in business to make maximum money just like a corporation. Spliting the assests 50/50 or even 60/40 (60 to the wife) and then both attorneys advising their clients to accept the deal would save a ton of lawyer fees; the only real loser is the attorneys. While I cannot say with certainty, I would bet that those couples with very little assests get thru divorce proceedings quicker than those who have a lot more to lose. I would not be surprised if there is some unwritten standard that a real good attorney is worth at least 15% of the assets; since there are 2 attorney involved they'll steal 30%.
I had a client who was a former attorney for the largest law firm in York County, PA. As a junior attorney he was expected to do 40 hours of billabe work on Mondays. He would look at a case to see if there were any new court dates. A couple minute job; billed at 1/4 hour. If there was, call the client; another 1/4 hour.
 
Like I said, the big firm suck big time.

Go small and local if you can.
 
I have a few who are customers of mine. They are all pretty nice people. The people they refer to me on the other hand are nuts.
I got divorced over 20 years ago. The ex and I were a little snippy in the begining until we both realized that it would cost more to fight over crap than to just each agree to give up a little more than we wanted to. With no kids involved it was a no brainer.
The people I see now are out of their minds with the stuff they fight about. Maybe it's just because that's the part I see, but looking from the outside I find it hard to blame the Lawyers anymore.
They are in a business. If you want to bicker by the hour it's going to cost you.
I usually hate doing those cases because the combatants call me continuously once they get my number. Then they complain when they get the bill. Luckily I usually have a relatively small involvement with them, but it is never fun, and I often get stiffed. Luckily I learned to get a retainer up front so it isn't a total loss.
My advice to your friend is the same as others here have stated. Talk to a Lawyer, then make a deal as soon as possible. Make sure to talk to a Lawyer first. If you are honest with them about assets and other things they can usually give you a fair idea about what you will have to give up in the end anyway. Once you come to terms with that try to get the spouse to see things clearly.
The one exception is if there is any infidelity on either side. That's when things get real crazy.
If your friend wants the number of a firm there is one I can recommend. I've done a few cases for one of the partners and she seems really good.
Just to keep it boating related:
If your friend has a boat, and a girlfriend, tell him to hide both from the "soon to be ex". I've seen some pretty pissed off spouses do some severe damage to high ticket items once they find out there is a third party in the picture.
 
Thanks guys
Will pass this along, friend does not have a boat, but is very well off, kids are grown,
 
Also as usual the web has lots of good free info.
Some sites you can ask questions of real attornies and they will respond, but usually will eventually say you need to call them, which means they want money!

One of my favorites was:

http://www.divorcesource.com
 
A tenant of mine if going tru a divorce. His assets are frozen. He;s F'ed

Rob
 
Here I am getting ready to propose and this thread comes along...You'll are giving me second, thrid, and fourth thoughts....
 
Speaking of paying out extra for something gained during the marriage, here's one! I received my MBA while married. I went to school at night while working full-time, my company paid for the degree, and we had no children. Still I had to kick in extra in assets. Here I am thinking that I got the degree to increase my earning power for our mutual benefit. But, I let it be, just to be finished with it.
 
Ever hear the one where the women got a boob job during the marriage and husband wanted one of them back! LOL!
 
Admiral and I just finalized our separation today. No lawyers involved. A lawyer is only needed when greed sets in.we dividend everything ourselves and both are happy with the outcome. Lawyers get rich on separations and sometimes it's not worth the lawyers fees to try and save some belongings. The fees are sometimes worth more than what its worth.
 
The other saying that made me crazy....was......I had to keep her in the " life style " she was a custom too.

Well .....the 10 years we where married...she never worked a day....should be easy? .....
No....our assets where divided 70/30 split...... she got more to keep her in the life style......WTF.....??
 
quote:
Originally posted by Double D

No....our assets where divided 70/30 split...... she got more to keep her in the life style......WTF.....??

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I walked away with $10k and 2 suitcases of clothes. She got everything else, but I had the better of the deal. I had peace of mind.
 
Carver 2557 - I'd hire a lawyer just to look over the separation papers if I were you. I went the mediated route years ago and we did the asset split. An error in the spreadsheet that we put together cost me 25k. it's easy to see an asset that wasn't added on the xls, but since I signed the papers, I had to live with it, even if the math was wrong. It was a costly mistake that a lawyer would have found. I had to pay a lawyer later to tell me there was nothing I could do about it.
 
Carver,
Not sure to say I am sorry to hear this, or happy for you. Either way, hope all works out with your life.
 
quote:
Originally posted by walterv

Carver,
Not sure to say I am sorry to hear this, or happy for you. Either way, hope all works out with your life.

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+1 Wayne. Hope things work out well for you and your family.
 
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