I got very bad news today from my attorney, and I wanted to vent.
Background: My DH and I separated in June, when he became VERY unstable with his bi-polar disease and refused to get treatment. Things got much worse over the summer and making a long story short, in July, he had a 2 1/2 hour armed standoff with the police because he called them saying that he was coming to my house with guns to get his credit cards and his kids and that he'd shoot anyone who got in his way.
I had a separation agreement put together just before that event, but soon to be ex never signed it. In the state of MD, normal divorces require a 12 month separation. But there's a relatively new law that allows less than that timeframe if there's evidence of cruelty. My lawyer thought that our sitation would probably fit the definition, so in September, they filed a motion for "immediate divorce", and began the process.
We filed our documentation paperwork in early October, and soon to be ex- was supposed to have 30 days to respond. In mid-October, the court set up for trial to be the end of January. Meanwhile, soon to be ex- continued on his manic episode, and did a number of stupid things, which resulted in him being sentenced to 100 days in jail. He went into jail in mid-December. His lawyer finally sent us questions about the time soon to be ex- went to jail. My lawyer has been asking when we were getting our information since mid-November, with little feedback. In December, his lawyer said "Well, you know my client's in jail???"
Fast forward to today. It was the pre-trial conference. And his lawyer shows up and says "We aren't prepared for trail. My client is facing his criminal charges, and we want that taken care of before handling the divorce. And we contest the divorce because we think there's still chance for reconciliation." YEAH RIGHT!! When pigs FLY! This man held my daughter from me because HE forced the credit card to be shut down because HE spent $2500 in 24 hours! That was the end of any chance for reconciliation. You put my child at risk, you're DONE!
And the judge delayed the trial. Til... get this.... AUGUST! So I have to drag through this for 8 more months! Without a divorce, I can't file for homestead exemptions on my taxes, so that's about $800 it costs me. Plus 8 months more bills to my attorney.
There, I feel better now getting it off my chest!
Background: My DH and I separated in June, when he became VERY unstable with his bi-polar disease and refused to get treatment. Things got much worse over the summer and making a long story short, in July, he had a 2 1/2 hour armed standoff with the police because he called them saying that he was coming to my house with guns to get his credit cards and his kids and that he'd shoot anyone who got in his way.
I had a separation agreement put together just before that event, but soon to be ex never signed it. In the state of MD, normal divorces require a 12 month separation. But there's a relatively new law that allows less than that timeframe if there's evidence of cruelty. My lawyer thought that our sitation would probably fit the definition, so in September, they filed a motion for "immediate divorce", and began the process.
We filed our documentation paperwork in early October, and soon to be ex- was supposed to have 30 days to respond. In mid-October, the court set up for trial to be the end of January. Meanwhile, soon to be ex- continued on his manic episode, and did a number of stupid things, which resulted in him being sentenced to 100 days in jail. He went into jail in mid-December. His lawyer finally sent us questions about the time soon to be ex- went to jail. My lawyer has been asking when we were getting our information since mid-November, with little feedback. In December, his lawyer said "Well, you know my client's in jail???"
Fast forward to today. It was the pre-trial conference. And his lawyer shows up and says "We aren't prepared for trail. My client is facing his criminal charges, and we want that taken care of before handling the divorce. And we contest the divorce because we think there's still chance for reconciliation." YEAH RIGHT!! When pigs FLY! This man held my daughter from me because HE forced the credit card to be shut down because HE spent $2500 in 24 hours! That was the end of any chance for reconciliation. You put my child at risk, you're DONE!
And the judge delayed the trial. Til... get this.... AUGUST! So I have to drag through this for 8 more months! Without a divorce, I can't file for homestead exemptions on my taxes, so that's about $800 it costs me. Plus 8 months more bills to my attorney.
There, I feel better now getting it off my chest!
and 
-- so sorry to hear that things are taking so long--
