J
judithmarie
Guest
I live in Orlando, Florida and have been married since 1988. My husband and I are having some difficulties in our marriage, and he has seen a lawyer without me, to get some advice. His lawyer advised him that, since my husband said we still love each other, we should establish separate trusts with the assets which we now hold in common.
My husband is eager for me to sign trust documents which his lawyer prepared. I had previously helped my husband create a summary of the assets we each owned prior to our marriage and their current worth, plus a summary of those assets we have acquired together.
We also created an excel spreadsheet detailing how much money I would get to put into my trust, and how much he would put into his. I signed all the lists and the spreadsheet and had them notarized because my husband told me the attorney would not even begin preparing the trust documents, unless the spreadsheets and other lists were notarized.
My husband forced me to sign the spreadsheet printouts before going on a trip to see relatives. I signed the printouts under pressure. My husband insists that the same lawyer can represent both of us, although I think that sounds like a conflict of interest.
I am now with with my relatives.
I have three questions:
1. Should I have an attorney of my own review the trust documents before I sign them?
2. If I get an attorney of my own, how can I tell if s/he is qualified to review them?
3. Should the attorneys work it out between them, or can I continue to discuss details with my husband, directly?
Please let me know how I should proceed. I return home on Thursday night, and I know he's going to want me to sign the documents on the spot on Friday morning. I need a credible way to respond to him that will protect my interests and seem fair and logical to him. He is very persistent and volatile, and I am afraid he will not take kindly to any resistance on my part.
Thank you so much for your help.
My husband is eager for me to sign trust documents which his lawyer prepared. I had previously helped my husband create a summary of the assets we each owned prior to our marriage and their current worth, plus a summary of those assets we have acquired together.
We also created an excel spreadsheet detailing how much money I would get to put into my trust, and how much he would put into his. I signed all the lists and the spreadsheet and had them notarized because my husband told me the attorney would not even begin preparing the trust documents, unless the spreadsheets and other lists were notarized.
My husband forced me to sign the spreadsheet printouts before going on a trip to see relatives. I signed the printouts under pressure. My husband insists that the same lawyer can represent both of us, although I think that sounds like a conflict of interest.
I am now with with my relatives.
I have three questions:
1. Should I have an attorney of my own review the trust documents before I sign them?
2. If I get an attorney of my own, how can I tell if s/he is qualified to review them?
3. Should the attorneys work it out between them, or can I continue to discuss details with my husband, directly?
Please let me know how I should proceed. I return home on Thursday night, and I know he's going to want me to sign the documents on the spot on Friday morning. I need a credible way to respond to him that will protect my interests and seem fair and logical to him. He is very persistent and volatile, and I am afraid he will not take kindly to any resistance on my part.
Thank you so much for your help.