Okay, so this wasn’t so much a question as it was a comment.  Sometimes people simply want to share their story but without seeking advice. However, Penniless makes for a great case study, if you will, on divorce and what can go wrong and how to fix it.

image source from unsplash by Didier Weemaels

Ideally, we would hire the best lawyer in town to handle our divorce proceedings. That’s not reality, however. The fact of the matter is very few of us can afford a top lawyer, and even many more can barely afford a bottom of the heap lawyer (not that we would recognize that until we’re half way through).

The sad truth about our divorce law is, it isn’t keeping up with the digital age and does nothing to rectify an economic divide when it comes to legal services.

“I have been a divorce lawyer for 20 years and the last time Canada’s Divorce Act was changed was in 1986, pre-dating the internet. In other words, Family Law in Canada operates as if the internet didn’t happen.”-Andrew Feldstein

That may be slowly changing though I’ll expand on that in a moment.

The question becomes should we spend our children’s education fund or our very last penny in our savings account on a lawyer? What choice do we have and how can we mitigate our financial losses during divorce.

Why feel lost when we’re all here, your on-line supporters and friends? Lisa’s divorce support round-up promises to offer something for every kind of divorce; high conflict, co-Parenting with a jerk, looking for love, having trouble dealing with your off the charts, emotions? I could go on and on because the issues we face during divorce are infinite in their variety.

image source popcorn-time-free.com

Last week, I found myself watching Erin Brockovich for the up-teenth time. If you have never seen the movie (have you been living under a rock?) then I highly recommend. It was released in 2000 so I guess, like us, it’s considered a classic by now. It was airing on TCM channel, which was my first hint that I’ve likely seen this movie more times

Today’s post is written and sponsored by Canterbury Law Group out of Scottsdale Arizona.

Their tips are spot on and this is a must read for anyone thinking of ending their marriage…

 We all know divorce has become common over the last several decades. Although there may be certain factors associated with divorce that are negative, at least women (and men) today can divorce a spouse and move on to achieve a healthy, happy and thriving future. Women today don’t need to be in a marriage to live a full life; we can prosper on our own.

One of the most challenging experiences for me during my divorce, was simply dealing with lawyers, attending meetings, discoveries, examinations and finally trial.

It can be intimidating to say the least. It’s one thing to sit with your own lawyer in their office but very different to sit across from your ex and his lawyer in a conference room. Add a court reporter, recording devices, piles of documents and know that you’re going to be grilled by a lawyer any moment, and you start to sweat.

source; Dreamstime

I’m very pleased to introduce to you Brad Micklin of The Micklin Law Group out of New Jersey, N.Y.  Brad generously agreed to answer my interview questions and you, dear readers will benefit from his family law wisdom.

If you’re in the middle of your divorce you probably feel like you’re chasing paper. You may have legal papers and bills spread out on your living room table.  You have important letters from your lawyer mixed up in your mail.  You haven’t opened the last envelope from your lawyer because you’re worried it’s a huge bill. These lawyers fees add up pretty quickly, while nothing seems to be getting done at all.  Sound familiar?

Erin Brockovich, client advocate

I guess it’s pick on lawyers day.  This is important, though and something I’ve experienced.  It made me wonder at the effects of lawyers PREACHING self help when they should be practicing law…

There’s a reason why Lawyers should stick to their expertise and provide legal advice and not personal advice.  I know a lawyer who attended a self help weekend retreat.  The premise of these retreats is for people to LET GO.  They tell their story and then claim they can let them go, like a helium filled balloon—floating away never to be seen again.

“Justice is open to everyone in the same way as the Ritz Hotel”-Judge Sturgess

image; dreamstime

Caveat: This post is intended to empower you.  It is not legal advice.

It sounds crazy but some people find themselves in the Appellate Courts for their divorce.  Picture this; two people cannot agree on their divorce settlement  so they proceed to trial.  A judge decides for them how their assets will be divided and how much alimony if any will be awarded and where the kids will be and when.  But that’s not the end…

Inevitably, someone doesn’t ‘like’ the judgment.  Usually it’s the person who pays the support or deems he got less in the decision.  If he or she has the resources they take the judgment to Appeals in an attempt to change the decision….  Do they need grounds for the