My husband has cheated on me and I need to hire a lawyer in order to protect my interests and those of my son... but I don't have any money. My husband made the money and I stayed home with our son. Recently he'd told me to leave the house so I left with our son and moved in with my parents. We didn't have any savings and there's barely anything left in our checking account (he's still left me on our joint checking account so that I can withdraw money as needed to pay for food or clothing, etc).
We've been married about 3 and a half years. Our son is 2 years old and I'm also worried about custody. I live in Arizona, the Phoenix area. Is my best bet to go through friends and to see if they can find a lawyer they know who would take me on pro bono, or are there free services out there for people like me that I've never heard of?
2007-10-16 04:43:13 · 16 answers · asked by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
These folks might be able to help.
Best of luck with everything.
2007-10-16 04:51:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are pretty cheap "divorce kits" all over the internet that will allow you to do the divorce yourself. Typically, the largest fee incurred is that of getting the documents recorded at the county. I don't know what the laws are in AZ regarding community property, etc. so be sure to do as much reading as you can to protect any interest you may have as far a assets are concerned. If he has expressed interest in keeping the child, then you do indeed have a custody issue to remedy and will need to have attorney representation; perhaps a loan from your parents can get you the help you need to see this thru. There is also the issue of fault or no-fault divorces that could aid in determing the custody issue. Again, you need to do some research for your state. Good luck!
2007-10-16 04:59:30 · answer #2 · answered by Laura G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing you can go to is go to the health and social services department where you aka the welfare office they will give you all the infromation that you need to divorce your husband and also have him pay you child support for your child and you can there also get custody. Thing is you need to prove that you work provide a well being for your son becuase if he wanted to he could fight for him so that he does not need to pay child support but there are only rare occasions when a judge will take a child away from his mother and if you can financial take care of him and you are a loving mother and your son is able to understand now as well and the judge will ask him who do you want to stay with. I also suggest you speak to your son and let him know if he needs to talk to someone that you are there for him these problems are always hard in kids to.
2007-10-16 04:53:34 · answer #3 · answered by Lost 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to hear what you are going through. Legal Aid has free attorneys for poor people, but they are very underfunded, and have long waiting lists. They do sometimes have lists of attorneys who will do a simple divorce on a sliding scale basis, and/or clinics where they teach you to do your own divorce. Keep in mind though, that your divorce may be more complicated than it seems to be at first.
If you own the house, you would be splitting the equity. If he has earned retirement benefits during the marriage, you would be splitting those. If you have incurred debt during the marriage, you would be splitting that.
Good luck.
2007-10-16 04:50:50 · answer #4 · answered by Tricia R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Number one you should NOT have left the house. Since YOU are a mother YOU and the child are entitled to stay in the home, HE is the one who should have left. That said...A joint checking account is a marital asset and you are entitled to use half of it for YOUR needs as well as your child's. Also you can instruct your lawyer to demand that your spouse pay all court costs as well as lawyer's fees, including YOUR lawyer.
2007-10-16 10:47:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's uncontested you can do it for pretty cheap. Call around. Some lawyers will charge on a sliding scale or you can check with the public defenders office. Just do NOT back down on things you feel are important. ANY agreements you two make, put it in writing and have it notarized.
2007-10-16 04:48:53 · answer #6 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can call The Legal Aid in your area. Look in your local telephone book and there should be a number for them. They usually charge you $5 for the consultation. You have to find out from them if there are any other fees. They usually go by your income.
If you can not find it in your phone book, there is a free information look up website on the internet. Go to: www.free411.com. You can find any number in The United States for free.
2007-10-16 05:02:53 · answer #7 · answered by Sabrina T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There aren't any lawyers who will file a divorce for free, but there are lawyers who will help you out with child custody/child support at a discounted fee.
When you go to file for divorce, your husband will be responsible for half of the lawyer fee anyways.
Divorce is expensive, but there's no way out of it.
2007-10-16 04:48:57 · answer #8 · answered by Joanne 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I live in Britain so our system is no good to you. I posted to say I wish you and your son the best of luck with this and that I hope you find a top notch solicitor to take him for every penny he has. You are a superbly intelligent woman so go get the bastard!
2007-10-16 08:42:45 · answer #9 · answered by Eye see! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because you are a woman the Divorce Lawyer can probably get you husband to pay the bills. they are good at that.
2007-10-16 04:57:12 · answer #10 · answered by eric l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to Wilson, McConnell and associates and ask. There was a secretary awhile back that didn't have any money and got a divorce and perhaps one of those ladies will remember her and can refer you or perhaps she is still there.
2007-10-16 04:51:07 · answer #11 · answered by peggy m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋