Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland
financial disclosure, re: husband's assets, income
Due to my personal financial circumstances, I will not be able to hire a divorce lawyer. My husband left me and refused to return to our home for over 6 months, so I came to CA.
I have been served with a Complaint for Absolute Divorce and other Appropriate Relief. I am representing myself. I do not know how to obtain my husband's financial data, back tax records and current income/assets info. He was never forthcoming with such data during our 13-year marriage. I am 63 years old and I fear he plans to leave me ''high and dry.'' At this age, I never expected to be ending a marriage. I have no assets of my own, no retirement and only a small SS benefit if I wait until I am 67. My work experience is quite limited, and I have little recorded income over the last 15 years. I will have to fly back to Maryland to appear in court, as I have challenged the language of my husband's ''complaint.'' Since sending my response to the court and my husband's attorney, I have heard nothing. I feel I am entitled to know what assets my husband posseses, including his retirement, SS, current earnings, etc. Also, I need to know the amount of his savings, investments. Isn't he/his lawyer required to disclose these details to me?
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: financial disclosure, re: husband's assets, income
You simply cannot afford not to hire an attorney. If there are significant marital assets you are entitled to your share.
Fees for representation may not be what you think. Contact me to discuss your legal matter.
Re: financial disclosure, re: husband's assets, income
Yes, you should be given such basic information during the discovery phase of the proceedings. You may also reasonably subpoena documents and records that help assess and support your case. If you want prompt, affordable legal assistance to help you "level the playing field" per se, contact us today for a free phone consultation. God Bless and we wish you nothing but the BEST here, especially under the set of very unfortunate circumstances.
Re: financial disclosure, re: husband's assets, income
You have an urgent need to contact the bar association of the county in which the case is pending and try and get a lawyer from the bar's lawyer referral service. Significant legal rights--such as your right to alimony, division of marital assets and a share of your husband's retirement benefits--are at stake. You may well qualify for an attorney at a reduced fee through the referral service based on your income. An experienced family attorney will know how to use the rules of discovery to document your husband's income and assets, and possibly even work out an agreement through the divorce proceedings that will protect you for the rest of your life. You can also ask the judge who hears the case to make your husband pay all or part of your legal fees. If you wait until after the divorce, it will be too late to protect yourself financially.
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