Need Legal Advice or Referral Re: Final Decree

Updated on October 20, 2008
M.M. asks from Hurst, TX
7 answers

I love that I can come here for help :-)

My father and stepmother have been in a LONG, somewhat nasty divorce. They both have lawyers: hers loves to draw things out in order to make more money, his is slow and unwilling to work on finishing this thing up. They finally went through mediation without their lawyers present and there were no issues with it. Now it's time to create the final decree and they need advice...

She does not want her lawyer to create the decree b/c he is asking for $5k plus hourly fees to do so. My father knows that involving her lawyer with this task will make the timing aspect an issue b/c more time/nitpicking on the decree means more money for the lawyer.

He does not want to use his lawyer b/c his lawyer told him that he didn't have the manpower to get it done any time soon.

Our questions are:

Can we use a third legal party to create the final decree? If so, do both lawyers need to be officially "fired?" The fees would be split and paid for by both my father and stepmother.

Do any of you have a legal referral that would be able to create the final decree? Do you know of a resource for free or affordable legal council on this matter?

THANK YOU MOMS - you are so appreciated!
M.

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More Answers

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S.O.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, they need to find an attorney that can draw it up and fire their other attorneys.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.T.

answers from Dallas on

Are there "things" to sort out between them (house, cars, savings, retirements?). If these issues have already been sorted through then there is no need for an attorney. Fire the lawyers, get a Paralegal. Or, go to the court house, or library, pick up the legal papers you need and file them at the court house. Simple divorce.
Money talks

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C.G.

answers from Dallas on

Hello i'm a paralegal and can help you. I would fire both attorneys immediatley and I can draw it up for you. Call me at ###-###-#### I have worked at a paralegal for 8 plus years now.

Sally

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.N.

answers from Dallas on

they should be able to go to a parralegal to write it up. There is also a website that will do it. They both need to fire their lawyers. Once they have a decee written they should be able to walk it into court and pay the filing fee.
Hope this helps.
THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. JUST AN OPPION OF AN OUTSIDE PERSON.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.J.

answers from Dallas on

With my divorce we used the same attorney to just draw up the decree it did not cost very much (no children involved). We used Jeff Branch he is in Grapevine and is awesome. They will probably need to fire their current attorney's why keep them around if they are not going to use them.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.H.

answers from Dallas on

When I fired my lawyer, the court had us go through
www.texaslawhelp.org . It was free and easy.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.D.

answers from Dallas on

Hi M.,

I am an attorney. If you would like to speak about this feel free to contact me at ###-###-####.

J. Duke

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