I've been lurking a while, and have a question I'm hoping someone can help me with on behalf of my Mum.
To cut a long story short, she's been engaged in back and forth through her solicitor, over the divorce proceedings from my stepfather, and financial settlement, and seems to have reached an impasse. Despite threats to go to court, no court action has materialised, and I suspect this is either because my stepfather doesn't have the funds to go to court, or knows he's being unreasonable in his demands. He has now stopped even mentioning the divorce proceedings or financial settlement in letters from his solicitor, but instead has resorted to sending petty letters demanding she posts him items he left behind when he abandoned my Mum and younger siblings without notice, and without paying any kind of maintenance or financial support.
My Mum can't really afford the solicitor over the important stuff, let alone what seems to me to be petty time-wasting.
What I'd like to know, if anyone can help, is:
- Does my Mum need to bother engaging with such requests? Or could she tell them to cease contact unless it's regarding the divorce?
- Would she be better requesting all correspondence to come directly to her, and only instructing her solicitor to handle the formal legal proceedings, in order to save money? I'd even be happy to deal with the correspondence myself, if needs be.
- Should she be looking for a better solicitor? The one she has quoted a fraction of the cost it's run into by now, and seems to be a bit too laid back for my liking. All she seems to be doing is charging extortionate fees for forwarding on emails and copying and pasting my Mum's replies.
- Does my Mum have a right to tell my stepfather and his solicitor not to contact her unless it's directly regarding divorce proceedings?
- What do you think my stepfather and his solicitor are playing at? Is this a tactic to try and get my Mum to give in to their demands?
Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can offer, and any personal experience you can share. Just feeling so sad and angry on my Mum's behalf. This man has caused so much heartache for her and all us kids from years of emotional abuse, financial irresponsibility, and bullying. I just wish I had the funds to pay him off and get him out of our lives once and for all.