A Funny Thing Happened on the way to My Divorce Consult


It has been a while since I have blogged, life has gotten in the way of my blogging and I apologize to the masses. This week was a rather interesting week for new consults. Two very interesting people came in the other day prompting the topics of this weeks blog. The first was a very attractive young lady who came in with her mom. She was about 30ish and had more than a few children a couple of whom were girls. The woman announced that she had discovered that her husband had cheated on her and she was in to see what her rights were. Unfortunately, I was able to tell her very little in that she had no idea what her husband made, what her bills were and whether or not they had any bank accounts, other than the checking. She didn't even know her mortgage payment or where if there were any mutual funds or IRA's. Yes, I must admit I felt angry at the lack of attention this woman paid to her financial well being and told her that her lack of knowledge was unacceptable. I informed her that she set herself up to be a victim. The woman answered that she enjoyed being taken care of and announced to her mother that she wasn't "doing this anymore" and stormed out of my office. Now of course this wasn't the first time I have heard this story, but it never ceases to amaze me that young women in this day and age still have that "take care of me" attitude. Now the attitude is fine so long as you are well informed. One doesn't have to pay the bills to know what they are. One doesn't have to be an investment wizard to know where the family investments are. One SHOULD read the income taxes before they sign them!! I apologized to her mother, who thanked me as she left saying I had said everything her family had being saying for years and that perhaps some of my tough talk would work its way through her daughter's brain. I hope so.
Client number two clearly was unsure that a woman such as myself could be A. so busy I had to cancel at least one appointment before with him B. so busy I couldn't devote more than 30 minutes to a free consultation and finally C. that my advice was so different than what he had gotten from at least two male attorneys, (neither of which I would bet was a practicing matrimonial attorney but a dabbler instead) that I must be wrong.
Needless to say neither client retained yesterday....but perhaps I gave them both some food for thought.