Libertieslass
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I am in the middle of a divorce. It's very amicable. My ex and I are good friends and in complete agreement on all matters. However, he initially applied for and got access to a free legal aid solicitor who has been dragging the case out now for over two years. She has been intent on creating issues where there are none and kept trying to look for things that he told her he's not seeking and force issues that we are in agreement on.
We are finally at the Civil Bill stage and I have entered an Appearance. I don't have a solicitor as the whole idea was to keep expenses to a minimum as there are no disputes. I submitted my Affidavit of means (stamped by a solicitor) along with all vouching documentation to his solicitor months ago. We agreed draft terms. Having entered an Appearance two weeks ago, I received a letter today from his Solicitor requesting that I furnish them with my fully vouched Affidavit of Means prior to the drafting of settlement terms. Is this something different? As far as I'm concerned, I have already done this and we've agreed terms.
They are also requesting my pension information/entitlements, which I also gave them with my other vouching documents months ago. This is not the first time either my ex or I have been asked to provide documentation previously provided. Am I missing something... do I have to go and provide all this information again? Or is this incompetence?
We are both worn out with it, ironically not because we can't agree but because this solicitor is thwarting our best efforts to effect an amicable settlement. She has told my ex that it is all baby steps and it will be next year before we get close to a court date. It will then be 3 years since my ex had his first meeting with her.
Our original (clearly naive) hope was that we'd agree everything, go to court, and get a judge to rubber stamp things. My ex is talking about asking for another solicitor. I am concerned this may delay things even further. It almost feels as if the solicitor is so used to acrimonious divorce cases, that she can't cope with one which is not!
I am keen to avoid having to get a solicitor myself but I'm frustrated by how painfully and unnecessarily drawn out this has become. Is there a way we can push this through at this point without any solicitors? I wouldn't have a clue how to do that. Any suggestions as to how to proceed or anything I may be missing greatly appreciated. I don't have a legal brain, so layman's terms also appreciated
We are finally at the Civil Bill stage and I have entered an Appearance. I don't have a solicitor as the whole idea was to keep expenses to a minimum as there are no disputes. I submitted my Affidavit of means (stamped by a solicitor) along with all vouching documentation to his solicitor months ago. We agreed draft terms. Having entered an Appearance two weeks ago, I received a letter today from his Solicitor requesting that I furnish them with my fully vouched Affidavit of Means prior to the drafting of settlement terms. Is this something different? As far as I'm concerned, I have already done this and we've agreed terms.
They are also requesting my pension information/entitlements, which I also gave them with my other vouching documents months ago. This is not the first time either my ex or I have been asked to provide documentation previously provided. Am I missing something... do I have to go and provide all this information again? Or is this incompetence?
We are both worn out with it, ironically not because we can't agree but because this solicitor is thwarting our best efforts to effect an amicable settlement. She has told my ex that it is all baby steps and it will be next year before we get close to a court date. It will then be 3 years since my ex had his first meeting with her.
Our original (clearly naive) hope was that we'd agree everything, go to court, and get a judge to rubber stamp things. My ex is talking about asking for another solicitor. I am concerned this may delay things even further. It almost feels as if the solicitor is so used to acrimonious divorce cases, that she can't cope with one which is not!
I am keen to avoid having to get a solicitor myself but I'm frustrated by how painfully and unnecessarily drawn out this has become. Is there a way we can push this through at this point without any solicitors? I wouldn't have a clue how to do that. Any suggestions as to how to proceed or anything I may be missing greatly appreciated. I don't have a legal brain, so layman's terms also appreciated