A friend of mine left a 20 year marriage more than two years ago and because she was in an abusive relationship and was forced to leave with nothing she was granted legal aid. Her husband petitioned for divorce, denied her access to the home, and soon moved in his new partner.
Mediation broke down immediately and communication with his solicitor had no effect. There seemed to be no progress and no advice from her legal aid solicitor. Her divorce was finalised without a settlement, which is worrying and her solicitor did nothing to prevent or advise against this happening.
Her ex husband dispensed with his solicitor, ignored anll correspondence, and so my friend’s solicitor applied for a court hearing.
After a long wait, a week before it was due she was told it was cancelled because the papers had been served to her ex’s old solicitor, presumably because her solicitor was at fault when submitting the application. She has no confidence in him nor his ability to represent her at court when eventually it gets that far.
What should she do? There are few legal aid solicitors available even if she was allowed to change which we think would be awkward.
if she went to another solicitor who agrees to take payment after the settlement how much is it likely to cost? Her husband is unlikely to agree to any reasonable payment so all three court hearings are likely.
Any advice would be appreciated as she is at her wits end.