Q: Can I be sued for bad work my ex husband did while married that I had no involvement in?

A: It can be frustrating, but it is a common frustration that one can be innocent, yet still must spend money on an attorney to prove that innocence. Fortunately, you are not wrongly accused of a criminal accusation; I know that doesn't make this any less painful, but it is also a clear example of people in similar situations. They must also pay for an attorney when they did nothing wrong.

Now, you have presented a compelling story. But if you want to present it to the judge without the added expense of an attorney, are you well versed enough to present it in a format that will be accepted by the court? For instance, if you have already been sued, then it is very important to consider how long ago you received the complaint. Did you file answers and counterclaims within thirty days? If this is not associate court, which is a level of court where (among other differences) less money is at stake, then you may already be deeply in trouble.

Have they also filed Certificates of Service of Interrogatories, Requests for Production, and/or Requests for Admissions? Have you responded within thirty days? Have you presented your own on important facts? If some, but not all, of these things have already happened, then the attorney you're hiring may have a lot of catching up to do. You may even face the possibility of a summary judgment!

What you describe may be conveyed to the court in something as simple as a "Motion To Dismiss." I'm not saying you should require this of your attorney--I don't know all of the facts. But, if your attorney determines the law and the facts justify filing a motion to dismiss, and she successfully argues that motion, then you may be out of this lawsuit very quickly. That's a lot of ifs.

Your attorney is used to dealing with all of those ifs. And your attorney will be able to equip you to respond to those ifs. Please, reach out to any attorney close to you today.