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Question

I live in SC and was cohersed into signing separation papers. Now our Divorce date is coming up and my Husband won't pay for an Attorney, I trusted my Husband was being honest after being married 30 years but he has not. Can I get things changed that are in the separation papers when we go to court? Can I contest the Divorce until what my Husband really owes me in the future is worked out

Submitted: 26 days and 5 hours ago.
Category: Legal
Value: $18
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

State/Country relating to Question: South Carolina

Already Tried:
Nothing

Posted by Law Pro 26 days and 5 hours ago.

Info Request

What does his getting an attorney have to do with the matter?

26 days and 5 hours ago.

Reply

He has an Attorney

Posted by Law Pro 26 days and 5 hours ago.

Info Request

Oh, he has and attorney and you don't correct?

26 days and 5 hours ago.

Reply

Correct,He will not pay for me yo have an Attorney

Posted by Law Pro 26 days and 5 hours ago.

Info Request

OK, it's not easy to void a separation agreement once it's been signed and witnessed.

 

Who wrote the separation agreement - his attorney or someone else?

 

Did you have an attorney review the separation agreement?

 

26 days and 5 hours ago.

Reply

His Attorney.No,I did not have anyone review it.I had a break down and was in the Hospital for a week and put on medication.I was scared because he told me if I didn't sign the papers,he would not pay the House payment or give me money to live on

Accepted Answer

Then you have a couple of basises for which to ask the court to void the separation agreement.

 

1) Duress - the threat he wouldn't make the house payment where you resided

 

2) Undue influence -that he coerced you into signing the agreement

 

3) unconscionable separation agreement - that the agreement is swayed in his favor and in violation of your legal rights

 

4) That you didn't know your legal rights and his attorney prepared such in misinformed you of matters.

 

5) your medical condition at the time - that you didn't have the mental capacity to contrat or know what you were doing (in addition to all the other arguments - this is very compounding)

 

Yes, I very much think the court would void the separation with no problem.

 

Then, once voided, you will have your opportunity to negotiate a better separation agreement.

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Expert: Law Pro
Pos. Feedback: 99.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 10/27/2009

Attorney

19 years legal practitioner: real estate, collections, estate, civil, business, and criminal law

26 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

Is there an Attorney in MT Pleasant SC that will help me get my Separation Agreement

voided for less than 300.00 per hour ?

Posted by Law Pro 26 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

I would contact friends and neighbors and ask them if they know of anyone. If they don't know or can't recommend someone - then drive down to the court and ask a clerk whom they would recommend on the sly (they are not suppose to recommend anyone). Keep asking till you get a name and then contact them.

26 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

Can I go before the Judge myself to ask for a continuance ?

Posted by Law Pro 26 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

Yes, certainly you can. What usually happens here is that you ask the other side (opposing counsel) if they will consent to a continuance. If they will consent then inform the judge's secretary and hopefully they will just reschedule the matter.

 

However, if the opposing counsel won't agree to the continuance - then you will have to draft a motion requesting the continuance so that the judge can make a ruling on the matter.

26 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

Can I draft the motion myself?

Posted by Law Pro 26 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

Yes, just get out some of the old motions from the case and use them as a template.

 

Then just state that this is a Motion For Continuance and state why you need a continuance, and what caused you to need the continuance.

 

It's really simple - it has to be a compelling reason for the judge to grant a continuance if the hearing is in just a couple of days - usually the judge likes these motions weeks in advance.

26 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

I don't have any old motions from the case

Posted by Law Pro 26 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

Then if you don't have something to use as a draft - I'm not sure you will be able to do it. I can't draft it for you - we aren't allowed to do such.

26 days and 1 hours ago.

Reply

We go to Court Nov 6 for the Divorce hearing,can I contest the Divorce and if so,

what will happen next ?

Posted by Law Pro 26 days and 1 hours ago.

Answer

Divorce and equitable distribution are two separate and distinct matters. Yes, you can contest the divorce but most likely the judge will grant the divorce (if the requisite time has passed) but void the settlement agreement and potentially freezing assets, pensions, IRAs, etc.. By doing such - the court will then schedule a hearing on the matter of equitable distribution some time later.

25 days and 20 hours ago.

Reply

Bui hasn't equitable distribution alraady been settled in the Separation papers ?

Posted by Law Pro 25 days and 20 hours ago.

Answer

Yes, but you stated you wanted to set aside the agreement.

 

Realize that divorce and equitable distribution are two separate matters. That one can be divorced but equitable distribution is to take place down the road. This happens all the time. For example - one wants to marry another - then the court will order the divorce but save equitable distribution for a later time.

25 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

Getiing the Separation agreement set aside may be diffficult.

My Husband typed the letter saying that he would no longer pay the house payment

on his work computer.Then he sent e-mails say that if I didn't tell the Judge

that I agreed to everything that he would take away stock options and the 401K

But he had a key made to my house using a key that my son had and while I was out of town came into my home took the letter,and deleted the e-mails.

He forgot to delete one e-mail that said "Tell the Jusdge you agreed or let the games begin" So how can I prove I was cohersed?

Posted by Law Pro 25 days and 19 hours ago.

Answer

That's what I went through earlier - what you could argue to get the separation agreement set aside - all the arguments you could use at a minimum.

 

This is again confirmation that he used duress to get you to agree to the separation agreement. As such, the separation agreement should be voided by the court.

 

Good luck!!

25 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

Can I go into Court myself on Nov 6 and tell the Judge that I was forced into signing the papers

Posted by Law Pro 25 days and 19 hours ago.

Answer

Yes, absolutely - take with you an outline of the whole event and inform the judge exactly what happened.

22 days and 23 hours ago.

Reply

In South Carolina,when you go for your divorce hearing,do you have to have a witness

testify that you and your spouse have not lived together for a year?

Posted by Law Pro 22 days and 22 hours ago.

Answer

You might if he disputes the matter and doesn't want the divorce. However, if he also wants the divorce he will agree with you.

22 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

But,Does the Court demand that you must have someone testify that you have

not lived together for a year

Posted by Law Pro 22 days and 22 hours ago.

Answer

Not if you both agree on the matter - No. Your own testimony is evidence of the matter and if he agrees - then the judge doesn't give two hoots and will agree that you have been separated for the statutory period.

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