reptilemama
Member
My ex decided to file for divorce without a lawyer to save money. He spent $250 on a website that was supposed to give you all the paperwork you needed. So, on February 4th, drove 45 minutes to the county he lives in for our prove-up hearing. I had told him that we had to take the parenting class that Illinois requires (a one-night class) before they'd finalize the divorce. He was convinced they'd do everything else and let us bring in the proof of the class later. WRONG! The first question out of the judges mouth was "have you taken the Children First class?" Of course we said no (but I was signed up at least) and he said we had to take it *before* the prove-up. So, off we go to the class, and a month later on March 4th, go to a second prove-up hearing. The judge asks for a certain form, and the ex looks at me like I should know what he's talking about. I suggested that it might be in the stuff he downloaded off the 'net, but he still can't find it. The judge asked if it was in the simplified divorce packet, and I said we didn't get one, it's not a simplified divorce, there is a child involved. But evidently one of the forms the ex filed was for a simplified divorce! So, the judge tells us to sit down and he'll try to figure out what we need when he's done with the other cases. So we sit down and wait. I was *so* ticked, because yet again I took a day off work and drove down there for nothing. Told the ex he needed to get a lawyer because I was tired of coming to court for no reason. After everyone else was done, the judge called us back up and took everything the ex had back to his chambers to look at it, so we sat down at the table. Meanwhile, a lawyer came in and sat down near us and started working on his laptop and making idle chit-chat. Nice guy, but I was too ticked off to say much and I think he could tell. When the judge came back he basically said all the stuff the ex paid for off the 'net was crap, and we needed to get a lawyer to look at it. The ex complained that he couldn't afford one (even though he just spent a $2000 bonus on a new apartment in Chicago) and the lawyer sitting at the table chimes in and says he'll do the documents for free! I was shocked! We ended up going into the laywer's lounge and giving him all the stuff we had along with our basic info, and setting up a meeting at his office for this Saturday. He said he had been through a divorce and it was such a hassle, that he decided to become a lawyer to help people out. Because he's interested in all the illegal law practice that goes on over the 'net, and because he wanted to kiss up to the judge, he decided to help us out. 
So, I have to go down there two more times (once for the lawyer meeting and once for the next prove-up), but at least we'll actually be getting somewhere this time! Finally, it will be done!
So, I have to go down there two more times (once for the lawyer meeting and once for the next prove-up), but at least we'll actually be getting somewhere this time! Finally, it will be done!
