Hi,
I'm currently separated after my wife of 9 years walked out. She has gone to a solicitor to arrange a separation of finance and assets and I’ve been sent an offer. While I don’t totally agree with the offer, any changes wouldn’t change the financial aspect of things.
I have 3 questions.
1. In mediation, before she went to a solicitor, I made her the same offer (near as, makes no difference in terms of money and who kept what) that she has sent me. I’ve been asked to pay 50% of the fees to draft the consent orders.
I feel as because I offered the same thing before she got a lawyer, why do I pay for her choice to go to one? I’ve remained without legal representation
2. If I did go with her offer, paying them to draft it, should I go and get my own lawyer to check it over? I would assume that as it’s submitted to the family court that it has to abide by certain standards and they can’t add loop holes that could bite me later?
3. I’ve found out she has a HECS debt that’s considerable. It was primarily gained prior to marriage and then added to without my knowledge (it’s not my debt nor had my name anywhere on it nor my education). She is trying to use this as leverage so I take more debt from the loan.
I see it as something I didn’t know about and shouldn’t be responsible for, especially as she never really has to pay it back as she chooses not to earn enough to pay it. Plus the loan is payable know, higher interest, more fees. Should I take that into account in our property settlement?
Thanks
I'm currently separated after my wife of 9 years walked out. She has gone to a solicitor to arrange a separation of finance and assets and I’ve been sent an offer. While I don’t totally agree with the offer, any changes wouldn’t change the financial aspect of things.
I have 3 questions.
1. In mediation, before she went to a solicitor, I made her the same offer (near as, makes no difference in terms of money and who kept what) that she has sent me. I’ve been asked to pay 50% of the fees to draft the consent orders.
I feel as because I offered the same thing before she got a lawyer, why do I pay for her choice to go to one? I’ve remained without legal representation
2. If I did go with her offer, paying them to draft it, should I go and get my own lawyer to check it over? I would assume that as it’s submitted to the family court that it has to abide by certain standards and they can’t add loop holes that could bite me later?
3. I’ve found out she has a HECS debt that’s considerable. It was primarily gained prior to marriage and then added to without my knowledge (it’s not my debt nor had my name anywhere on it nor my education). She is trying to use this as leverage so I take more debt from the loan.
I see it as something I didn’t know about and shouldn’t be responsible for, especially as she never really has to pay it back as she chooses not to earn enough to pay it. Plus the loan is payable know, higher interest, more fees. Should I take that into account in our property settlement?
Thanks