divorce settlement

[bossy jossy]

Hi, I am looking for some legal advice but due to the nature of my query I can't ask a solicitor. I recently got divorced, he was repeatedly unfaithful with prostitutes while we were living in Bahrain and so I committed myself under poor advice to divorcing him. To date this had cost me �25k as I have a house which I bought prior to marriage which he has claimed part of ,preventing me from selling it to fund my fees. We saved almost 100k in Bahrain and he had 30k savings. At the first hearing to set dates he turned up with a barrister, my solicitor didn't even know he would be there and demanded a financial resolution hearing. I agreed as the stress of the ongoing dragging out he had been doing up to this point was playing havoc with my health (I have Fibromyalgia) My solicitor was completely outclassed and I ended up agreeing after 5 hours arguing MY OWN CASE to a lot less than half. None of the savings, our joint house where I had been living and having to pay him 45k on the sale of my house. he kept his own savings which is fair enough but i just don't understand how I came out so badly. Anyway I sacked the solicitor and have been trying to sell my house, not easy at this time and it has lost so much value that if I pay him 45k i will only have enough left to pay off my debts if lucky. He of course has not even signed the house over to me as he agreed. He won't even answer any communication and I have been struggling to pay 2 mortgages. Probably have 2 months before it gets repossessed. I am hoping it will sell and there hangs my question. Can I hide the money after I pay off my debts or will it go straight to him if I use a new soilcitor and don't tell them will they know anyway? Could I move it offshore? I would rather go to prison than pay him it is just not right! I have always worked hard and deserve to at least go out with what I came in with, don't I ???

[voltr4m4x]

This is indeed a highly complex issue which is not easily resolved. But I need to ask, firstly, was the agreement to sell the house one made purely between yourselves, or is it supported by an Order made by a Court ? Once you can provide me with an answer to this part of the problem then I can perhaps proceed to advise you further.

[bossy jossy]

It is supported by an order made by the court but this was obtained under pressure. Fibromyalgia means I have great difficulty concentrating and also get very tired. I would have agreed to anything after 5 hours and the threat of it costing me up to �30k (as my solicitor said) to take it to a proper hearing. My solicitor knew about my health issues including the fact that I am likely to have a severely reduced work life, 5-10 years more at most. She also was in possession of all the facts regarding my husbands monthly income of �6k tax free, our savings in Bahrain etc and had said prior to the court day that I should get our joint house if he kept the savings and my house as it was what i came into the mariage with and he would keep his investment from before the marriage the 30k. Than on the day she completely collapsed and said I SHOULD AGREE TO ANYTHING, LESS THAN HALF COS i COULDN'T AFFORD TO TAKE IT FURTHER. i INTEND TO TAKE (sorry about caps) her conduct of the case to the Law society but have sent my documentation to a solicitor who says she will do this, then I can go back to court but she has done nothing in 3 months and won't return my documents. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, i understand it is very complex but I can't borrow ay more so how can i possibly win

[voltr4m4x]

It makes not the slightest difference as to whether the court order was made "under pressure"... the fact remains that it was made in your favour, your ex- may appeal all he wishes, but any appeal would be against the court decision and not against you personally so stop worrying about that matter. You hold the key, so to speak.

It does seem that you have been badly let down by solictitors acting for you, and if you feel aggrieved in these circumstances you can take your case to the Law Society and complain formally. To do this, I would strongly recommend that you visit your local Citizens' Advice Bureau in the town in which you live. Their advice is always provided free of charge.

Obviously, I do not have access to any of the paperwork involved in this highly complex case that you describe, so the advice I am now passing on to you is given in good faith and I am hopeful that you will be able to take this from there, and be able to make something of your life. You are entitled to something - it is your basic human right.

Try to be as patient as possible with the person who is attempting to represent your interests; I know this may seem extremely difficult with your medical condition, but the people at the Citizens' Sdvice Bureau are trained and competent personnel who are there to assist you and to point you in the right direction at no financial cost to you whatsoever. Be prepared to take along all relevant documentation involved with your case, and I conclude by wishing you the very best of luck with your "fight" for justice.

[bossy jossy]

Thanks, I will try to calm down and be patient. I do trust that the solicitor Emma who now has my papers can sort things out I am just panicking at the time it is taking. I will take your advice and see the Citizens advice when I have my next half term for more advice. I just want to move on and have a life without enormous debt. If he has that then I must deserve at least the same. Thanks again and kind regards