Badly burned

[JOE VICTIM]

As many readers know, Ontario Family Law is badly broken. I cannot afford a lawyer because I make the huge sum of $43,000 per year. I keep getting burned because I cannot afford a lawyer to counter the false statements that have been made to the court by my ex-wife. I have an excellent case but I refuse to lie to the court. It is very tough to counter falsehoods. So, who can help me out of this nightmare? For starters, I am garnished for $650 per month and she quit her job in 2009. Am I missing something here? She QUIT HER JOB (an is in excellent health) but the courts feel I should cover her lawyer bills ($2000) and pay $650 per month for 13 years! WHO CAN HELP ME HERE! We have no separation agreement and they are trying to STRIKE MY PLEADINGS because I dont have the $2000. We have NO CHILDREN or ASSETS. She left me with a huge marital debt. She lives rent free in a half million dollar home. I need legal advice NOW. This case will be groundbreaking for its relevance for a lawyer who lets me pay installments rather than 3 or 4 thousand up front. HELP ME and help all the other men in this province who are getting f***** over.

[dadtotheend]

I'll help you:

1.Lose the victim mentality

2.Continue to take the high road and not lie. That will utlimately bite the other side in the ass, but you have to be committed, resourceful and persistent to make sure you don't cave under it.

3.If you can't or won't pay for a lawyer, read this forum for hours and hours and hours. When you're done, read some more. And after that, rinse and repeat. You will reap what you sow. Become an expert on equalization of family property and spousal support. Be prepared to put in hundreds of hours educating yourself.

4.Lose the desparation to get your legal advice NOW. If you can't afford to pay for it you better learn it on your own and you better be prepared for it to take a long while to figure it out. There's no subsitute for hard work.

[rustedinnocence]

As many readers know, Ontario Family Law is badly broken. I cannot afford a lawyer because I make the huge sum of $43,000 per year. I keep getting burned because I cannot afford a lawyer to counter the false statements that have been made to the court by my ex-wife..

JOE...I feel for you. I truly do. But you have to make choices and do whatever it takes in order to do what needs to be done.
I make a huge 33k a year. I can't afford a lawyer either..but am told I make too much money (that's laughable) for legal aid.
My ex, among so many other things, is a pathological liar.... I have to PROVE his lies... I am digging hard, putting in hours and hours of leg work to do so. I cannot afford a lawyer either... especially with my child in their first year of University and having to help with room rent, extra food, books, etc, and still pay for my share of a mortgage and all the bills that go along with it.
BUT - I find ways. You will too if you want it bad enough.
I've cashed in my RRSP's, extended my line of credit and am about to apply for a loan now. Everybody has a story to tell, everybody needs support, everybody has been hurt in some way because of their separation.
Help is here on the boards for you but you have to work for the help. You have to ask questions, read the law acts, follow up with links others will give you. You have to ask more questions, you have to give back and answer questions if you know the answers and you have to work hard, just like we are all doing.
It may feel as if you are helpless and need someone else to take the reins and guide your life, but you are not helpless. Ask questions, read posts, educate yourself. Recognize how much power YOU have when you put hard work into the things you want to accomplish.
Good luck. If you find a lawyer that will hold your hand and walk you through this fee free, please direct me in where to find them… I sure could use them as well. Until then, start believing in yourself and what you can do….. start educating yourself and start posting questions.
I wish for you easy finding of information that will help you through this learning curve.
Rusted

[JOE VICTIM]

Yes I have spent years researching Ontario Family Law. I have yet to find the section of the law that deals with greasy lawyers who have decades of experience telling lies.

[dadtotheend]

Well then you have only been looking in the theory and not dealing with the practical. Even six months here would have armed with the tools to deal with your problem.

NOW GET TO WORK

[Kenny]

Joe, I feel for you as well. The principle is "access to justice." I don't earn a bad salary and I can't afford a lawyer! I understand that they are running a business as well, but, in my opinion, some over charge crazy amounts.

With respect to Ontario Family Law, there should not be anything there about the rules and conduct of lawyers. There is the Law Society Act, Barrister Act and others that regulate how lawyers operate. But then, who writes, amends and handles complaints about those documents - lawyers!

Yes, the family law system in Ontario is broken. The system is designed to transfer wealth more than it is to care for children and protect the interests of divorcing parties, particularly men.

I know many men who could not cope; some who took their lives because of it. In my years in the army, I have had no less than six friends take their own lives over it.

Yes I have spent years researching Ontario Family Law. I have yet to find the section of the law that deals with greasy lawyers who have decades of experience telling lies.