Is Legal Aid good enough?

[stupidmoron]

What is the name of your state? NY

I am writing on behalf of my friend who wants to divorce her husband on grounds of emotional, mental and financial abuse. They share ownership of a house and she wants alimony. Her husband has vowed to fight her. He wants the house and does NOT want to give her alimony. No children. She believes he has hidden or transfered his assets to avoid distribution.
She does know of a very good lawyer. She describes her as a "shark". This lawyer came highly recommended by the head of a mental health clilnic. The charges would be I think around 6 or 7 thousand. My friend's husband filed for divorce once before (and thought she would not get a lawyer) so she has used this lawyer before and knows what to expect. This lawyer wanted to hire a forensics accountant to see if he has hidden or transferred assets - bank acconts, etc.
I think the fee is reasonable. My friend does not. She is considering Legal Aide to help her. My question is: Would Legal Aid do the same job as a private lawyer? My friend wants at least half the house and alimony. And a court order of protection or an order for him to leave her alone. something like that.
I think the private lawyer would be better than Legal Aid. Even if she has to borrow the money, I think it's worth it.What is the name of your state?

 

[nextwife]

What is the name of your state? NY

I am writing on behalf of my friend who wants to divorce her husband on grounds of emotional, mental and financial abuse. They share ownership of a house and she wants alimony. Her husband has vowed to fight her. He wants the house and does NOT want to give her alimony. No children. She believes he has hidden or transfered his assets to avoid distribution.
She does know of a very good lawyer. She describes her as a "shark". This lawyer came highly recommended by the head of a mental health clilnic. The charges would be I think around 6 or 7 thousand. My friend's husband filed for divorce once before (and thought she would not get a lawyer) so she has used this lawyer before and knows what to expect. This lawyer wanted to hire a forensics accountant to see if he has hidden or transferred assets - bank acconts, etc.
I think the fee is reasonable. My friend does not. She is considering Legal Aide to help her. My question is: Would Legal Aid do the same job as a private lawyer? My friend wants at least half the house and alimony. And a court order of protection or an order for him to leave her alone. something like that.
I think the private lawyer would be better than Legal Aid. Even if she has to borrow the money, I think it's worth it.What is the name of your state?

WHY does she believe that she is "entitled" to alimony? She has no kids, WHY isn't she able to work? Certainly being female is not a barrier to supporting oneself.

How long were they married? How long since she left the workforce?

As to the house and other assets: Which are MARITAL, and to what degree. She'd be entitled to her share of the MARITAL assets and MARITAL debt as well. NOT necessarilly half of whatever assets he has or ever have. Only marital assets .

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state? NY

I am writing on behalf of my friend who wants to divorce her husband on grounds of emotional, mental and financial abuse. They share ownership of a house and she wants alimony. Her husband has vowed to fight her. He wants the house and does NOT want to give her alimony. No children. She believes he has hidden or transfered his assets to avoid distribution.
She does know of a very good lawyer. She describes her as a "shark". This lawyer came highly recommended by the head of a mental health clilnic. The charges would be I think around 6 or 7 thousand. My friend's husband filed for divorce once before (and thought she would not get a lawyer) so she has used this lawyer before and knows what to expect. This lawyer wanted to hire a forensics accountant to see if he has hidden or transferred assets - bank acconts, etc.
I think the fee is reasonable. My friend does not. She is considering Legal Aide to help her. My question is: Would Legal Aid do the same job as a private lawyer? My friend wants at least half the house and alimony. And a court order of protection or an order for him to leave her alone. something like that.
I think the private lawyer would be better than Legal Aid. Even if she has to borrow the money, I think it's worth it.What is the name of your state?

She really needs the private attorney.

 

[Ohiogal]

She really needs the private attorney.

And why is that Ld? Please explain that. Why wouldn't a legal aid attorney be good? Huh?

 

[stupidmoron]

I don't know why she thinks she is "entitled" to alimony. I thought when people got divorced the wife was automatically "entitled" to alimony. Why wouldn't she be? They were married for over 30 years. She was a housewife. She worked briefly but her husband did not like her to work; it took time away from him and she would sometimes come home tired. He did not like that. I know them both. He is very self-centered and childish. My friend would agree with me. I don't know what marital assets are. I am not a lawyer. All I know is what my friend tells me, okay? and as I remember the private lawyer was seeking alot. I mean... A L O T. One of the lawyers demands was that ex-hubby keep a life insuarnce policy for $500,000 for the ex-wife and - AND - thier two adult children. 3 life insurance policies in all so that in case he died they would each inherit $500,000. Sorry, but I sincerly doubt a Legal Aid lawyer would make such demands. The husband and his lawyer originally agreed to EVERYTHING. They did not put up a fight. Then, acording to the husband, the lawyer talked him out of the divorce. The husband still maintains that he was willing to pay anything to "get her out of my life". He has told me this to my face as well.

I'm sorry again. Let me try to answer: "Why wouldn't she be able to work?" I actually did ask her what kind of job would she look for. She says she would need to go back to school, etc. basically no real answer at all. You're going to hate this but she also says she'd like to apply for disability since she has been in therapy and on medication for the past 5 years or so.
There's no doubt they are both very unhappy in thier marriage.

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I have made alot of mistakes that would qualify me as a "stupidmoron" but I am learning from my mistakes and I do not intend to make the same mistakes again in the future. Behind my name is a real person sitting here and reading all the insults hurled at me.

 

[Ohiogal]

I don't know why she thinks she is "entitled" to alimony. I thought when people got divorced the wife was automatically "entitled" to alimony. Why wouldn't she be? They were married for over 30 years. She was a housewife. She worked briefly but her husband did not like her to work; it took time away from him and she would sometimes come home tired. He did not like that. I know them both. He is very self-centered and childish. My friend would agree with me. I don't know what marital assets are. I am not a lawyer. All I know is what my friend tells me, okay? and as I remember the private lawyer was seeking alot. I mean... A L O T. One of the lawyers demands was that ex-hubby keep a life insuarnce policy for $500,000 for the ex-wife and - AND - thier two adult children. 3 life insurance policies in all so that in case he died they would each inherit $500,000. Sorry, but I sincerly doubt a Legal Aid lawyer would make such demands. The husband and his lawyer originally agreed to EVERYTHING. They did not put up a fight. Then, acording to the husband, the lawyer talked him out of the divorce. The husband still maintains that he was willing to pay anything to "get her out of my life". He has told me this to my face as well.

I'm sorry again. Let me try to answer: "Why wouldn't she be able to work?" I actually did ask her what kind of job would she look for. She says she would need to go back to school, etc. basically no real answer at all. You're going to hate this but she also says she'd like to apply for disability since she has been in therapy and on medication for the past 5 years or so.
There's no doubt they are both very unhappy in thier marriage.

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I have made alot of mistakes that would qualify me as a "stupidmoron" but I am learning from my mistakes and I do not intend to make the same mistakes again in the future. Behind my name is a real person sitting here and reading all the insults hurled at me.

You have no clue of the law but you have insulted those who do. And you chose your name. We are allowed to comment on it. shortening it to either Stupid or Moron is what happens. LD is short for LDij. Ohio is short for my name as is OG. You chose it and now you are whining about it.
As for your comments about legal aid attorneys you are living up to your name Moron. You also apparently do NOT read the TOS as you have posted the same thread twice. Okay Stupid?