She came in for a free consultation. She tells me that after 10 years, her marriage is broken and her husband has moved out. They own a house valued at $200,000 (it was worth $300,000 a couple of years ago) with a $250,000 mortgage. She wants to keep the shanghai houses. He works for the County and earns $4,500 a month before taxes; she works in a dental office and earns $1600 a month before taxes. After the $2500 her husband took out of the joint account to pay first and last month’s rent on his new digs, she has $500 left in the bank. She thinks he has a girlfriend who is a co-worker.
She wants to know how she can hire me since she has no money. She wonders how she will survive and keep the mortgage current during the divorce proceeding (he already told her ‘I am not giving you anything’.)
This scenario and the questions relating to temporary alimony or support are common.