Status Quo | Oh My Aching Debts

Our Status Quo

Posted on January 26, 2010
Filed Under spousal support | 6 Comments

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We are still struggling to overcome the depression that the court’s decision caused last week. I believe that it comes from believing that once R was approved for disability, the court would make this right. I still struggle to understand how this could have happened.

I have been going through R’s back taxes. In 2002, the year before he was hurt, his total income was $13000. The farm showed a loss. In 2003 and 2004, most of his income was from his long term disability insurance and was less than that. The farm showed a loss in those years too. As his neck and hips have continued to deteriorate, he has been able to do less and less on the farm and even with me helping, the income has not been over $5000 in any year.

How can a judge order someone to pay their more than they make in spousal support? I don’t suppose I will ever understand how this could happen and I still have trouble believing that it can’t be changed. I suppose the short answer is that he should have had an attorney for his divorce but it gets to be more complicated when the cheapest attorney he could find requires a $5000 retainer.

Now we are faced with getting another attorney. I don’t know how we will pay for it but I have learned the hard way that to go to court without one is a losing proposition. I may be having a retainer sale of everything left on the farm.

Today is the first day that I have felt even semi normal. I can look at life with a little bit more of a hopeful attitude and am praying that the new attorney will be able to make some headway. He is very well respected in the county court system. Of course, that means he is also very expensive but since it is apparently pay now or pay more later, he will be worth it.

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Comments

6 Responses to “Our Status Quo”

Investment Izzy (19 comments.) on January 26th, 2010 12:20 pm

I think it’s great that you’ve finally been able to find an attorney. Best of luck to you and your family through these tough times! Please continue to update us and it will get better soon…
Denise (26 comments.) on January 27th, 2010 9:39 am

A competent attorney *can* and *should* get that changed so it’s manageable. I hope the one you found is competent and this all ends before too long. You’re both in my thoughts.
marci357 on January 27th, 2010 3:56 pm

Thoughts are with you – good luck!
Make sure the attorney asks for retroactive
so the old stuff goes away…
Investment Izzy (19 comments.) on February 2nd, 2010 12:22 pm

I agree with Denise. Hopefully this attorney will help sort out all your troubles. Please let us know how it is working out so far…Good luck!
Denise(new comment) on February 16th, 2010 1:30 am

No recent posts from you so I thought I’d check on y’all and see how things are going. You’re still in my thoughts and prayers.
Investment Izzy(new comment) on March 1st, 2010 5:45 pm

Hello there! Haven’t heard from you in awhile…Hope everything’s alright over there. Please update us.