SuperMom44
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? WV
We have been married for 18 years, have 2 kids (ages 17 and 16), own 2 homes, several vehicles and both have decent jobs - he will be earning a great deal more in 2 years though. I want the divorce, have talked to a lawyer once and am trying to decide whether I can just do it myself (I have the forms filled out and ready to take to the courthouse) or if I may wish I'd spent the 3K on a lawyer. At times he wants to get his own lawyer and fight for "everything" and see the kids every other week and at other times he says he doesn't want "anything" and won't make the kids spend time with him (they would rather not) and just to have the papers served to him and he'll sign whatever I've drawn up.
I want to spit things up fairly and affordably and am not asking for any child support or alimony from him. If we agree on the division of the marital property does the judge ususally make it a 50/50 split anyway. For instance if he gets the house worth 220K with virtually no equity and I take the one worth 150K with approx 30K equity? Or if he agrees to pay the credit cards for 20K and I just pay for the items I have now 8K. Can we decide ouselves how the property and debts are divided?
Even though he says he doesn't want visitation I was planning to give him every other week with the kids if they want to see him. In WV kids 14 and over may choose which parent has custody but does that mean they can refuse to go on visits too?
Should I cash out a CD (mine from family inheritance) and pay for a lawyer or would I be safe to go it alone?
We have been married for 18 years, have 2 kids (ages 17 and 16), own 2 homes, several vehicles and both have decent jobs - he will be earning a great deal more in 2 years though. I want the divorce, have talked to a lawyer once and am trying to decide whether I can just do it myself (I have the forms filled out and ready to take to the courthouse) or if I may wish I'd spent the 3K on a lawyer. At times he wants to get his own lawyer and fight for "everything" and see the kids every other week and at other times he says he doesn't want "anything" and won't make the kids spend time with him (they would rather not) and just to have the papers served to him and he'll sign whatever I've drawn up.
I want to spit things up fairly and affordably and am not asking for any child support or alimony from him. If we agree on the division of the marital property does the judge ususally make it a 50/50 split anyway. For instance if he gets the house worth 220K with virtually no equity and I take the one worth 150K with approx 30K equity? Or if he agrees to pay the credit cards for 20K and I just pay for the items I have now 8K. Can we decide ouselves how the property and debts are divided?
Even though he says he doesn't want visitation I was planning to give him every other week with the kids if they want to see him. In WV kids 14 and over may choose which parent has custody but does that mean they can refuse to go on visits too?
Should I cash out a CD (mine from family inheritance) and pay for a lawyer or would I be safe to go it alone?
At least by my ex and I. His attorney got a little feisty, temporarily.