A solicitor is blackmailing me

[Tanya2011]

I am getting a divorce. My solicitor is blackmailing me. What can I do?

My ex hit me and I have said to my solicitor that I won't hand over our 4 year old for contact without police presence or protection. My solicitor says that he is scared of me and that if I don't agree then ultimately he will get our 4 year old.

Also all this and earlier unrelated problems made me unwell and I am saw a dr and a psychiatrist for a while. Thats done now and I'm going to a depression help group once per week for about six weeks. Thats it and I have told my solicitor. But my solicitor then writes to me and says that I must see a psychiatrist. But I have already followed the medical advice I have received. The solicitor is impossible.

Also for contact, my ex gets our four year old at Christmas every other year until 30th December but when I have him for Christmas its only until the 26th. So at New year, I have him only from 30th whilst my ex has him from 26th December. I tell my solicitor about this and she just writes to me saying that that is what has been ordered and that I cannot agree anything. I said at the time that is was unfair.

Its blackmail. What can I do?

What a pile of shite! Solicitors are professionals. They answer to a professional body and can be held accountable for their actions. This may result in them being barred from practising as a solicitor.

Yes some are unprofessional but a very small minority imo.

You dont like the advice your solicitor is giving you-simple as that. My dh has clients whining in his ear every day because they dont like hearing the truth.

If you are not happy with your solicitor then get another one.

I don't know that you can predict this with statistics. Some solicitors are persistent problems and I have recently had a case assessed by a solicitor who missed out key facts and wrote up errors of fact and then sent them to my insurance company without telling me so that my claim was damaged. The idea that joining a professional body makes you professional is ridiculous. Support the OP and offer advice don't just rubbish.

I don't know that you can predict this with statistics. Some solicitors are persistent problems and I have recently had a case assessed by a solicitor who missed out key facts and wrote up errors of fact and then sent them to my insurance company without telling me so that my claim was damaged. The idea that joining a professional body makes you professional is ridiculous. Support the OP and offer advice don't just rubbish.

If you think this doesn't happen, read some accounts here: solicitorsfromhell.co.uk

Although I'm sure there are some black sheep in the legal profession based on what OP said no one can determine the solicitor has acted inappropriately here. The best suggestion is independent advocacy.

Missingfriendsandsad, to be clear I'm not a solicitor and have no vested interest but it seems to me the allegations on Solicitors From Hell are largely unsubstantiated. I see the High Court threw out a defamation claim brought by the founder just last week;-

www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/oct/21/solicitors-from-hell-law-society?newsfeed=true

Bringinghomethebaguette >> Not under psychiatrist anymore. Solicitor advised me that best thing for divorce disclosure was to give her all my money. There wasn't so much left anyway as I'd paid it all away in fees. So a few further thousand was given. Then I had nothing (except for amount in share of home).

Coccyx > Please read above posts which details current situation.

Greasychip > It is, although I suppose separation and divorce is for anyone. There were quite a few problems anyway then the separation so yes huge amounts of problems. I recognise that such circumstances can affect health and judgement hence my reliance on medical advice which I take as advised. Thanks for suggestion in p2 and will look into this as it's a new suggestion. Thank you really. Entirely agree with you that such stress levels can affect judgement. Have taken medical advice and follow it.

Really thanks for your replies.

Yes I quite agree, what you are going through would be extremely stressful for anyone. What do your friends think about the situation? Do they think the solicitor is scamming you, or do they think you have got it wrong?
Really hope you can move on from where you are, both fir your own sake and your child, it certainly seems that you can't carry on like this.