Q: Attorney inaction and conflict in divorce proceedings.
What can I do if my attorney, who I hired for my divorce after a 35-year marriage, has not filed anything to protect me and seems to have a conflict of interest with my husband's attorney? My husband was the breadwinner while I raised our four children, all of whom have special needs, and served as a caregiver for our family. Despite this, it feels like my contributions and current mental health challenges are being overlooked. I've provided extensive documentation, yet my attorney changed my complaint instead of appealing as promised and has not shown me any financial calculations. I signed a formal agreement with this attorney, and there have been two dismissals due to cohabitation issues, even after moving out. I feel taken advantage of and ignored, exacerbating my mental health symptoms. How should I proceed in protecting my interests and well-being in this situation?
A:
I no longer do family law because invariably one or both parties (wrongly) accuse the lawyers of conflicts of interest. You are perhaps overacting but if you believe you have been wronged this way, discharge your lawyer and get a new one. You should have done this the first minute you concluded that you were betrayed.
After you get new counsel, you can file complaint against the old with the state disciplinary board.
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