Howard M Lewis’s Answers

The divorce could take many months if you are unable to agree to everything. If however, all other matters are agreed upon you may go to the judge and ask his or her opinion on what type of alimony the cout is inclined to grant. That may give you some guidance. Good luck and take care. You will need to demonstrate need even though it is a long term marriage in order to increase the amount of the alimony and the court may attribute some degree of income to you if you are not already working....

You may pay for your ordinary and necessary expenses which do include legal fees out of your joint account. You may also take as much money as you like until you are formerly served, just be prepared to have it assigned to your side of the balance sheet if you take too much and can't explain it. Most courts look at what is fair and equitable. So the quick answer is yes, you may take money for expenses and for an attorney.

Absolutely not, you have every right to leave an abusive situation. I suggest that you make sure you have some evidence whether it is proof of assualt and battery or if you keep a diary or tell someone. Protect yourself and be happy. take care.

It depends upon many other factors in your case, but from the facts you have given me, if you don't have access to that money now and you get divorced before you have access then it may be difficult if not impossible for him to access it. That being said, there are many other issues you must explore with your attny such as whether your husband relied upon that money by other means and did the fact that you are going to get that money at 45 alter your financial decisions. This is a complicate...

I am sorry that you are going through this difficult time. He cannot force you to do anything you don't want to do, you are married you are not his property. However, he can suggest that you bring some money into the marital estate and if you refuse then you have situation that requires someone to make a decision or collaborate. The only person that can force you to do anything is the judge and he/she can attribute income to you but that does not mean you have to work if you are the primary...

If the computer was designated your own computer and that no one else in the family had access to it and it was passoword protected and I repeat that no one ever used that computer but you and there was a separate and individual family computer you have a very strong argument that he stole private information from you and that it may be excludable at trial. Ma has a rule that a family computer is open game however if your computer was so very personal you may have a case.

Great question and I beg you to sit down with a good local attny and go over the facts with her or him, most likely you second job will not count towards alimony but it will towards child support. Many more things to consider. google or avvo attnys and sit with a few. they won't bite. Most won't.

in some cases you may retain an attorney under the new limited appearance rules and he or she can file the divorce, along with a motion for temporary orders using the money that you have, then if you need more money or the attny needs more money he or she can file a motion for legal fees if necessary. It sounds like you have enough to retain a good attorney from your other questions so the real issue may be what if you run out of money, well if you do you can file that motion later on or asked...

You and your husband can agree to whatever you like. Right now if nothing is filed he can do what is currently doing. Once a divorce is filed and he is served or you are served then there is an automatic restraining order limiting your spending to necessary and ordinary expenses. however, you can easily agree to finish it or if you disagree you can stop it and he would have to go to court to get an order to use your marital funds to finish it. Usually logic will prevail. yes, you have a...

This happens in any type of professional service industry and you may retain a new lawyer as this is your perogative. As long as there is not an imminent court hearing that your prior counel is bound to he or she may withdraw when a new attny files his or her appearance. Just like switching any other service provider, doctor, dentist etc, find someone you feel comfortable with. There are many great attnys on AVVO and in your town. Take care