Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Contest or not?

I signed a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Lawyer's office did not give me a copy of signed forms. I went in another time with my sister to ask for forms and was refused. I brought in my boyfriend and was made copies of the forms with no questions asked. After reading the forms, I found some things I do not remember being on there before. (Future ex signed forms 10 days after I did.) Is this unethical practice? Do I have any recourse? If I never had a job while we were married and he purchased an expensive car, which was repo'd because he failed to make payments, can I also be expected to pay half when during the marriage I was not even considered as a source of income when he purchased it? My two sons 14 and 12 say they want to stay with the father, but my 10 year old daughter wants to move in with me. The father has parties where there is drinking and watching of sexually explicit videos and she is told to stay in her room. She is also left at home alone at times in a community where several known sexual predators live. Right now, he gets custody of all the kids and I get every other weekend with them. If I contest any of this he may very well not let me divorce him. He is very abusive and controlling.


Asked on 3/16/06, 11:24 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Steuart IT Forensics, Inc.

Re: Contest or not?

It would appear that you are saying that somebody in your husband's attorney's office changed documents after you signed them. That would be unethical, but as you said, you did not get a copy when you signed them, so it would probably be a she said, he said situation. Not an optimum fact situation. As to making copies or not making copies, a paralegal or office manager would almost certainly not make copies for you if the attorney had not approved providing the copies (or unless there were already marked opposing party copies).

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Answered on 3/17/06, 4:25 am


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