Nothing Final

My question is how long should it take to get a divorce final If you have nothing to split up?

Well, Ive been separated for over 10yrs and as of March 06 he filed for divorce. We both have attorneys, and we did the mediation and agreed on everything as far as support for my daughter. I paid my attorney a retainer fee of $1,600. Now just this month (July) she is asking for another $1,200. Now the only thing that is holding this matter up is ex-spouse and attorney are fighting child support due to an arrearage. The state is going after him. That has nothing to do with me, cause I agreed to not accept child support because my daughter is 16 and he helps with her financially. So since his attorney wants to fight on this matter, she wants me to pay her additional. I believe that matter has nothing to do with me and him and his attorney need to fight that off-set of our legal matters. Should my divorce be final or should I have to pay an additional $1,200 because his attorney wants to fight the state? Both parties have agreed on all terms, i even had to pay back the child support monies that was being deducted from his pay check through my maritial estate. So my suggestion to my attorney was, why do I have to keep going to court on a matter that he is fighting. She's not returning my answers or phone calls since I didn't agree to pay the additional. Everything is settled.

Public Comments

1. that sounds funny. it should have been over with by now.
2. It should have been 3 months
3. since you have retained the attorney, she speaks on your behalf. Your "voice" has to be heard when it comes to your choice to defer child support, so yes, you have to pay her the additional money to be involved in the case. It has just as much to do with you as it does your ex. They can finalize your divorce at any time, the child support is a seperate issue.
4. When I went thru my divorce 6 years ago, my lawyer told me it was a cut and dry divorce because my ex and I had very little assets, the house would be sold and once mortgage paid off we would split rest of profit down the middle, whatever else we had we divided amongst ourselves. I paid the $2500 to retain him thinking that was all I would ever need to pay. Well PS, 2.5 years and $10,000 later, I finally had my divorce. What took so long? Child support problems. Child support will snag things up forever. Until all matters are settled, the divorce will not become final.
5. Divorce lawyers will find ANYTHING to fight over just to make more money. That's their job. Your job is to figure out what you can really comprmise on and do it and cut them out and cut to the chase. Whe I got my divorce (1989) we sat down at the kitchen table and divided the washer/dryer, TV.... etc. Her salary was just as much as mine, there was no alimony. We had 2 kids but since the kids spent a week with her and a week with me, there was no child support. We each gave a lawyer $300 to draw up the papers and it was done in 6 months. If it's taking 10+ years, SOMEONE doesn't really want it, do they?
6. It only takes a few months to finalize a divorce. Sounds like the lawyers just want more money.