Posted: 5/1/2008 4:57:27 PM EDT
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By mutual consent it looks like my wife and I are going to be calling it quits in the next couple of months. It's my second marriage and her first although she was 38 when we got married. It was a grand experiment and some of it was even fun but we are going in two completely different directions. It's been that way for two years now and both of us are too damn bull headed to change it. We both can stand alone financially. We don't own anything jointly of real value other than some furniture and lawn equipment etc. She doesn't want my guns and I damn sure don't want her horses. We don't have children together, hell other than a house account to pay bills out of we don't even have a joint checking account. I'll be leaving the house she owned before we were married and a few months down the road I'll be buying another for myself. Right now it's all peaches and cream in relative terms but this ain't my first rodeo. I won't be leaving without a separation agreement signed. My question is does anyone know if it's possible to get an INEXPENSIVE (uncontested) separation agreement drawn up that can be "blessed" by attorneys after my wife and I sign it? I hate like hell to pay several hundred dollars for an agreement if I don't have to. I'm sure I could scare up something on the web but who knows if it would be binding or not. I may post this in the legal forum but I thought I'd ask the local crew first. I live in the Charlotte area. Any advice? |
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Sorry to hear that Rocketman, but it looks like you guys have kinda worked it through. Don't have specific knowledge on the uncontested separation papers. But, I was thinking it was pretty simple and inexpensive. But, I haven't done it and all the separations I've been close to were um... CONTESTED even when they didn't start out that way. Good luck. |
I heard that. I know several that started nice and ended rough as well. It looks to me like the more lawyered up you get the more it costs in the long run. Unless of course you have real money and she really comes after you. My first divorce was so easy we probably should have stayed married. So far I think this will work that way too. I'm still not leaving without a separation agreement though. We talked again about it last night and she agrees a separation agreement protects us both so I think all we really have to do is get something on paper that's legal. She even talked about using the same lawyer but unless the law has changed I don't think you can do that. I've known this woman for 15 years or better and we've been married for 5. It's a cryin shame we can't keep it in the road. We were friends before we got married and I have no doubt that we'll still be friends after we are divorced. We just can't get the middle part right. SamColt that's good advice. As the saying goes just because you're paranoid doesn't mean someone's not out to get you. The Marines taught me to trust but verify. I won't forget that. NCPatrolAR when you say you did yours down at the courthouse, you mean you filed an agreement somehow? Thanks guys! |
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It looks to me like the more lawyered up you get the more it costs in the long run. Yeah, I think once the lawyers get involved, they start convincing their clients to go for more. Then the reaction and counter-reaction and it spirals out of control. Then the only winners are the lawyers. But, my wife says if the papers aren't right there can be recourse up to 10yrs. later. She also says it's about $750 to file with an atty. in Meck Co. |
Yup. There is a place for lawyers for sure but I don't think uncontested divorce is one of them, assuming like you said everything is legal and binding. My sister and my sister in laws divorce started out reasonable enough but once the attorneys started going at it things got out of control. They are still paying for it to this day. I live in Union county so it may be a little cheaper to file but probably not by much. u352 thanks for the good wishes. |
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I was involved in almost the same situation. My ex and I had a separation agreement drawn up and it only cost a couple hundred bucks. I think its a good idea to have one done as I like to cover all bases. Be careful what lawyer you choose if you decide to get one. Most of them are ridiculously overpriced, especially seeing as this is uncontested. I ended up finding a local, small town lawyer to do it for me. Some of the ones in Charlotte wanted $500 plus and thats way too high. Shop around and good luck to you. -althor |