What I've been told by my previous lawyer, and my friend.

If you sit down with one lawyer, come to an agreement, it can all be done in a month.

My wife refused that and wanted her own representation.

My lawyer told me my support payment offer was generous, a little high even. She asked for far higher in response. She wanted to push for a back and forth with lawyers, especially over custody.

Once two lawyers are involved, it can be over 12 months, even over 18 months. In the meantime, no support is paid, and no decision is finalized on splitting equity.

A court order to sell the home will be timed to the end of the school year, I was also told.

My wife moved out and got an apartment presuming the sale of our home. She mostly went along with our timeline. She held things up about 5 days or so at one point which cost valuable time.

So, after years of threats, she is forced to support herself until decisions are made between lawyers.

I feel bad about this because she moved into an apartment based on us selling this house by Feb 1st. And we tried really, really tried. Part of what cost me my mortgage was no defined support payments.


What's best for the kids?

Stay here, at least until June. Let them finish the school year uninterrupted