Running out of money ...

[LarrytheFishwithFingers]

So, I’ve got part way through the divorce (not my idea) and I’ve run out of money. I can’t afford to pay a solicitor any more and so I want to wind things up there.

I was wondering if anyone has advice as to how to operate without one. Is it ok just to write to ex’s solicitor direct. And what if court documents go to my solicitor? Are they going to charge me to pass them on? Or just sit on them? And if I subsequently win the lottery and decide to go back to my solicitor is that possible? Or will they likely hate me?

Just don’t know how it works but tired of paying £500 per month, eating up all overdraft, and no end in sight - ex stalling, refusing to provide info and not even saying what they want.

What stage of the divorce are you? My ex and I are sorting it mostly without solicitors and only involve them for financial stuff. Currently sorting consent order and his solicitor sends documents straight to me and I return to his solicitor.

If you didn't want the divorce and your ex keeps stalling therefore costing you lots of money then perhaps let it be. If he wants the divorce he can do the hard work.
Work out what you need to get out of the divorce and only when your ex has got his act together with all documentation and a confirmed deal ready then I would think about paying for a solicitor short term.
Make him work a bit harder for the divorce. Tell him you're not arsed either way and for him to get back to you when he's got his act together.
Good luck at the shitty time.

Why does your x want the divorce - do you think this is a deliberate stalling on his part for you to end up where your at

What is your financial situation like - how long has it been going on - I'm assuming you will not be able to sort this out just between the two of you -if you can post some more info you may get a better perspective

We have the Nisi, and are nearly at the 4.5 months for the Absolute. Ex wants the divorce for unreasonable behaviour and also because “I don’t love you any more”. Not sure that’s the order of priority, but I’ve not always been a bundle of joy to live with. Could get all outraged but I don’t have the energy frankly. Stalling - not sure why really - partly just stressed out I think, maybe some tinges of regret too. Feeling bad for the DC. But we are making no progress now and I’m sick of paying out for it all. PIL have given blank cheque for ex’s legal fees. Just don’t feel up to fighting fire with fire so wondering about self representing etc.

Maybe will continue to use solicitor to check final deal and for some Court advice, if and when, but just so tired, so broke and so fed up. Sorry. Thanks for the kind words.

You can write direct to your ex's solicitor, but your current solicitor would need to come off the (court) record first. If you explain to your solicitor that you are struggling with fees and want to try to do most of the legwork yourself, and perhaps re-instruct them if things get trickier, they should be perfectly understanding. If you want court documents sent direct to you (rather than your solicitor) then ask your solicitor to provide you with a Notice of Acting in Person, which you can sign and then send to the court.
Any good solicitor should allow you to use their services as little or as much as you think you need (and to pay accordingly).