Dear marlee,
The judge, having possibly hundreds of other cases at the same time as you, could very well be trying to get all of your facts together for a proper decree AND be able to schedule you in as well. Wile I can't review your case obviously, the 3 1/2 years of divorce wojuld only have taken that long if you or your ex (or your attorneys) contested issues and did not agree and/ or, in the case of the attorneys, sought adjournments of any prior motions dates, conference dates, discovery dates, etc., thereby causing more delay than only your battling over issues would have done.
You don't mention why it will cost you $2200 more - is your attorney charging you for something? If it is to your ex for alimony, presumably the final decree would include continued alimony of some kind?
In any event, there is no way to know if there is corruption of anytime. The judge is not necessarily lying - have you ever tried to get something accomplished today, but other things took precedence and you simpy couldn't? It does happen to judge's all the time - every time there is an Emergent motion, it must be squeezed into the schedule, ergo something must get moved. This could be an emergent motion to have a child removed from a home due to dangers to that child, it could be an emergent motion for temporary custody due to child abuse, it could be an Order to Show cause why one party should not give the other party the keys to the car he/she stole (things that stupid, but emergent, since the party can't get to work, care for kids, etc., without). Point is, life occurs and there can be entirely legitimate reasons why the decree isn't complete or why there has been no scheduling. Or, like you said, someone is dragging their feet unethically. There is no way to know, unless someone confesses.
Because of the cumbersome and time and money wasting features of the court system, I learned a long time ago that if you can stay out of it, do so. It is a strong argument for settlement, rather than contested divorces.
I wish there were easier ways to get through this - your issue is one of the reasons people hate the courts/lawers, etc. Can't say I blame them. I wish I had better news.
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