prior planning

What is the name of your state? Ga iam married to a woman that has two children. i don't have children.we lived together 6 years before getting married.we have been married for one and half years.during 5 of 6 years i completed a b.s degree.although i did not work full time i worked part time and recieved money from a student loan.she recieved benefits from the state,as a result did not work(free housing and food benefits).i considered myself financially independent. i would help pay for utilties.after completing the degree i have payed the majority of the bills(housing,clothes,food,etc....). i love the kids very much and would do anything for them, but i want to come out with a fair deal. she has cheated on me before and during our time being married. she has got us into more debt by not wanting to sacrifice. since she had chidhood with divorced parents and bad previous marriages, i assumed her lashing out would eventually subside. i was wrong!!! i don't want to say anything about a divorce untill i have my stuff together. she has 3 credit cards total being 2k. i have 3 total being 4k. we recently got a car for her and the purchase amount was 20k. she cosigned.i have got a private loan of 4k and a 25k student loan. i am willing to pay this marital debt except the car loan. do i need to do something about the car now or put a clause in the divorce papers when i decide to file. also, will i have to pay child support. she says that she would never ask for support since the chidren are hers. i make 31k a year. she makes 25k a year. she usually recieves $200 month childsupport for the youngest child. i know commenting on all the above is too much. please choose a section and reply. thanks!!!

As long as the children aren't yours and you haven't adopted them then you don't have to pay child support. You haven't beeen married long enough for spousal support to even be considered. Since you and she both signed for the car loan, yhou will both be responsible for the debt. A judge can order her to make the payments, but the creditor can still come after you if she does not pay.

thank you very much. would it be too much of a problem to do the divorce myself with the aide of a paralegal helping. what should i do about the checking account that is in both of our names. if i am willing to stay in the relationship for more than 6 months what could i do to better prepare myself??

any advice is appreciated!!!

Prior planning

If you are comfortable representing yourself in court and you understand each document and where and when to file each, it would probably turn out ok. If, however, you get flustered easily, or are uncomfortable speaking in court, then you should retain the services of a competent attorney.

just to be safe close it out - divide it in half or what ever it takes to get it closed. to be safe down the road.