Need help/advice (Dealing with divorce)

[VampyricAngelX]

Does anyone know any lawyers, in or around Maryland, that are affordable to help my mom & I out with the divorce between my mom and dad? For years now we've been hoping that he'll move out like he was supposed to. He's making life so difficult for both of us. He treats both of us badly and she's never home because of it. We can't have any friends or family here without him throwing a fit or making them uncomfortable. Whenever he and my mom fight and she leaves to go to a friend's house, he takes it out on me. I pretty much stay upstairs in my room and only go downstairs when he's home to make something to eat. He barely pays his half of the bills and my mom needs to keep on him or he doesn't pay. He never once helped with any of my senior year expenses and didn't even go to my high school graduation. When asked tonight to even name the school I graduated from, he couldn't. He's isolated himself from everyone, including me and told both of us that he hates us before. He's also taken all of my college savings bonds, making it that much harder to get a car and start college.

It's been this way for at least 3 years and tonight was a huge argument over bills... He finally admitted that he's planning on taking his time on getting out and will get his own care before even thinking about finding a new place. Which basically means he's not leaving. So my mom's looking for a lawyer to help us out. We didn't want it to get this bad but if he won't leave on his own, she's going to have to sell this house and take him to court. We're pretty sure he'll just leave if she takes this step, he would rather die than give her half of everything between them. It's sad that it's gotten this far but it's the only way her & I are going to be able to get on with our lives.

She's got all her friends looking out for someone to help us out and has left a message with Family Law (but no one ever returned her previous messages...) so maybe someone on here has any ideas on who to go to? It's so hard to deal with everyday...

 

[LizMarie]

Is the house under her name or both your parents name? Because if it was under her name alone she could easily evict him and if he didn't leave she could call the sheriff, etc and he'd legally have to go..

Sorry to hear that you rand your mom are having such a rough time. Hopefully youll be able to find someone that will help you out.

 

[VampyricAngelX]

It's under both their names, that's the problem. We can't legally force him out without just selling the place. And it would be easier for him to find somewhere else since he makes more money than she does and it would be just him. Thanks though, I really hope she can sort this all out soon.

- Edit -
Oops, just noticed that it says "care" instead of car >.<

 

[Gecko]

You need to call around for lawyers or get a referral. They are in the yellow pages. Ask the fee per hour though and if there's a free consultation. Hourly rate can differ a lot just by location (i.e. big city more expensive then suburbs) Also, don't act crazy when you meet one. Good lawyers attempt to avood "crazy" clients.

You should really check into the college bond thing and see if he could have legally used them.

 

[paulnj]

You mom needs to call the police if your father acts aggressive in any manor whjether with words or fist. From there the police can put her on the right path to getting help for the abuse. From there you should get leads on divorce lawyers who work reasonably.

 

[pkrtech]

Sadly, you and your mother need to leave. I would call the police and ask them for some numbers to womens support groups they should be able to assist you in looking for a good lawyer and perhaps a temp place to stay until you guys can get your own place.

Good luck , be safe.

 

[VampyricAngelX]

There's not too much the police can do if he hasn't been physically violent and he hasn't been. She's gotten quite a few numbers now and is in the process of working on things. It'll still take awhile for anything to go through so for now its just a wait and see kind of deal.

 

[pkrtech]

There's not too much the police can do if he hasn't been physically violent and he hasn't been. She's gotten quite a few numbers now and is in the process of working on things. It'll still take awhile for anything to go through so for now its just a wait and see kind of deal.

They can point you in the right direction to get help.

 

[BalloonzForU]

You should really check into the college bond thing and see if he could have legally used them.

Actually there are laws bout this and since you are still under 21 and living with your parents some states still consider you in their care, and it's a major criminal offense to take money from your kids savings, etc in most cases. This may be something that you CAN take up with the police! :main_thumbsup:

 

[VampyricAngelX]

Well thats also part of the plan when my mother takes him to court. Since he won't willingly leave and give me those, she's asking for half of his bank account and all the bonds if they have to sell the house. Seeing as how he'd rather die than give her a penny, he'll most likely find a place and give the bonds just so he won't have to give up his money.

 

[Gecko]

Well the thing is you can stop transfers and such. It's not like the courts haven't figured out people try to transfer assets to aviod judgements.