I want to push for my ex to have to pay at LEAST half of my legal costs, as he initially and continually forces this issue to go through lawyers and courts unneccessarily, and has repeatedly had me put my lawyer to work on this issue or that, only to find he and his lawyer don't even reply, causing my legal bill to continue to mount. I know he thinks that as long as he keeps the kids and I in poverty, he's in control (he's actually told me that).
My lawyer keeps acting like my insistance that we push for costs is a nuisance to him, and I can't help but wonder if that isn't because the last thing he'd want is for my ex to be responsible for the legal bill. Among other things, the lawyer is now well aware of my ex's completely irresponsible and shady tactics (not to mention that he's likely to be incarcerated soon for a fourth impaired driving conviction), and I'm sure it must be occurring to him (the lawyer) that while I'm not working, I've still been paying him something whenever I can and I'm probably a better credit risk than my ex, whose pulling in anywhere from $75K to $95K per year.
So, realistically speaking, what are the chances my lawyer will fight for what's in my best interest, when it's not in his? Do I need a separate lawyer for the cost issue, or what? My ex has shown himself to be a huge liar in all this; several times agreeing to settlement terms, but then not following through, and at this point, I don't think he'll deal with this at all unless he is actually forced to by the law. So I'll likely have to rely on my lawyer to argue the costs issue, but I feel very strongly that he won't push it at all.
My lawyer keeps acting like my insistance that we push for costs is a nuisance to him, and I can't help but wonder if that isn't because the last thing he'd want is for my ex to be responsible for the legal bill. Among other things, the lawyer is now well aware of my ex's completely irresponsible and shady tactics (not to mention that he's likely to be incarcerated soon for a fourth impaired driving conviction), and I'm sure it must be occurring to him (the lawyer) that while I'm not working, I've still been paying him something whenever I can and I'm probably a better credit risk than my ex, whose pulling in anywhere from $75K to $95K per year.
So, realistically speaking, what are the chances my lawyer will fight for what's in my best interest, when it's not in his? Do I need a separate lawyer for the cost issue, or what? My ex has shown himself to be a huge liar in all this; several times agreeing to settlement terms, but then not following through, and at this point, I don't think he'll deal with this at all unless he is actually forced to by the law. So I'll likely have to rely on my lawyer to argue the costs issue, but I feel very strongly that he won't push it at all.
Comment