Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois
Can't afford support and debts too
I saw a recent response you posted on lawguru.com
I just got hit with child support which I understand, but maintenance of almost $1000. Now they told me that it was based on trying to level the playing field. But my question is how can they level the playing field on income and not debt. Since she left in Feb., I have made all of the payments for everything including cars and tuition, etc. And before our separation, I paid $6K for her to take an IT certification course and that's where she started seeing her instructor which is the reason I filed for divorce and custody of our 2 children. Now I don't think I got very good representation because three different times we appeared in front of the judge my attorney was not their. He always sent someone else. I feel helpless, because now I have to come up with the support, maintenance and all of the debt. How is this fair and what can I do?
1 Answer from Attorneys
You have thirty days to seek a reconsideration
Apparently you had your day in court, and it didn�t go so well for you. Following the court�s judgment, you have thirty days to try to get a new result, by filing a motion for reconsideration. You�ll need new facts (and an explanation as to why there facts weren�t presented at the hearing) or a foundation in fact to show an error of fact, or a foundation in law to show an error of law.
You state that �your attorney� was not there three times. When you hire a lawyer, you hire the lawfirm. Unless your lawyer promised that he or she would personally handle all proceedings and matters, it�s not unusual to have another member of the firm work on your case, including appearing at court proceedings on �status calls� and �progress calls.� It would also not be unusual for another member of the firm to handle a motion hearing or even a trial, particularly where that member of the firm is the most knowledgeable, most experienced, or most prepared in that area of law or fact.