Situation:
I have two kids, daughter 10 and son 17. Son has not spoken to his father in almost 4 years as a result of mistreatment, psychological, physical. My husband moved out last year, when I said we needed to separate, he did not disclose his whereabouts, he was out of the country and in another province, he reappeared 9 months later immediately after he received by email my application for divorce. Before we separated, he said he did not want any part of the house (which is completely in my name, he avoided all financial responsibilities), he did not want custody, now he wants it all and including spousal support. He claims he has no earnings, but I have proof that he has. He was ordered by court to provide financial disclosure, but he only filed a short statement that he has no earnings. He also owns an apartment abroad, about which he lied to the court. The apartment is solely in his name, I got the proof, he states he does not. In my original application for divorce I did not know that he would go after spousal support and the house, I thought he would concede (as verbally agreed), therefore I did not put a claim to his apartment or child support. I also did not disclose the mistreatment of the children, refusal to provide emergency medical care, physical abuse, emotional abuse, making disparaging comments about me to my son, attempted/threatened me that he will commit suicide, withheld his earnings from me when he was not talking to me, disappeared. I did not disclose any of this in my original application, however, I have disclosed them in my reply to his Answer. Now I would like to amend my application for divorce, so that it includes cruelty (is it worth it?), and so that it includes the child abuse as reason for me to get sole custody. I also think I should ask for a children's lawyer (or should I?).
Questions:
Under what circumstances would I request a children's lawyer regarding custody? If I don't request one, could the Court appoint one for me? If I do request one, what are the wait times? If I request a children's lawyer, could I schedule a settlement conference without a report of the children's lawyer? Or should I wait for the report of the children's lawyer? or could I resolve financial and child support issues at one settlement conference, and the custody issue at another settlement conference once the children's lawyer's report is in. I cannot afford a lawyer, I am in debt and reached my credit limits because I receive no child support. However, I do not qualify for legal aid. My husband lies about his income, but has hired a lawyer. He has supervised access through the family centre, but the wait times are long, so no visits took place yet.
I have two kids, daughter 10 and son 17. Son has not spoken to his father in almost 4 years as a result of mistreatment, psychological, physical. My husband moved out last year, when I said we needed to separate, he did not disclose his whereabouts, he was out of the country and in another province, he reappeared 9 months later immediately after he received by email my application for divorce. Before we separated, he said he did not want any part of the house (which is completely in my name, he avoided all financial responsibilities), he did not want custody, now he wants it all and including spousal support. He claims he has no earnings, but I have proof that he has. He was ordered by court to provide financial disclosure, but he only filed a short statement that he has no earnings. He also owns an apartment abroad, about which he lied to the court. The apartment is solely in his name, I got the proof, he states he does not. In my original application for divorce I did not know that he would go after spousal support and the house, I thought he would concede (as verbally agreed), therefore I did not put a claim to his apartment or child support. I also did not disclose the mistreatment of the children, refusal to provide emergency medical care, physical abuse, emotional abuse, making disparaging comments about me to my son, attempted/threatened me that he will commit suicide, withheld his earnings from me when he was not talking to me, disappeared. I did not disclose any of this in my original application, however, I have disclosed them in my reply to his Answer. Now I would like to amend my application for divorce, so that it includes cruelty (is it worth it?), and so that it includes the child abuse as reason for me to get sole custody. I also think I should ask for a children's lawyer (or should I?).
Questions:
Under what circumstances would I request a children's lawyer regarding custody? If I don't request one, could the Court appoint one for me? If I do request one, what are the wait times? If I request a children's lawyer, could I schedule a settlement conference without a report of the children's lawyer? Or should I wait for the report of the children's lawyer? or could I resolve financial and child support issues at one settlement conference, and the custody issue at another settlement conference once the children's lawyer's report is in. I cannot afford a lawyer, I am in debt and reached my credit limits because I receive no child support. However, I do not qualify for legal aid. My husband lies about his income, but has hired a lawyer. He has supervised access through the family centre, but the wait times are long, so no visits took place yet.
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