Question:
hi I have been trying to navigator through hundreds of website. I know there is help out there for me. I am Army Veteran and still in Active duty status. I have been looking for a lawyer in Bismarck, ND that is willing to help me with divorce and custody. I don't have a lot of money saved up to start my case. Most lawyer want $3,000 to $5000 right away just to start my case. I gave everything I have to my wife that I want to divorce now I am playing catch up. I have made mistakes in the past but I have not seen my kids since December of 2018. There mom has moved again and changed her number so I can talk to them anymore. I think its because I said I have enough of the verbal abuse from her and I wasn't going to give her any more money beside the child support. My question is there any lawyers that know military divorce and is willing to take my case if I can make payments or if they can do it pro bono.
Jim's Reply:
When it comes to legal problems, divorce is at the top of the list. Everyone wants a divorce but nobody wants to pay for it. The problem is that divorce is usually the worst kind of law there is to practice...nobody is ever happy and nobody ever wins. Lawyers don't provide free legal services for divorce because there is so much work involved and it can get very ugly at times. Legal aid organizations also avoid divorce so we're left to our own devices to get through it. That you're a veteran doesn't make any difference other than that it may be even harder to find anyone who wants to represent you because of all the issues we assign to vets these days. Interestingly enough, many say that we do as well to represent ourselves in divorce unless there is a lot of money and property involved. You'll want to speak with the clerk of court to find out what your options are to represent yourself.
- PS from StatesideLegal: A low-cost consultation with a lawyer experienced in military divorce and veterans benefits may also help and should be available through the North Dakota Lawyer Referral and Information Service in Bismarck, listed in the "Find Legal Help" directory. The civil legal aid provider in North Dakota also has self-help information on divorce on their website here.