My husband and I have no money.  We are upside down on our house.  I work and so does he, but we barely make enough to pay our bills.  We have two children and I need to get them away from their father.  He is abusive, and has little time for "good", in my eyes, parenting.  Why can't we get a divorce without it costing an arm and a leg?

Pissed, poor and unhappy in Seattle

Dear PPUS:

Please accept my sympathy for your situation.

Divorce is probably the most expensive legal situation that most people experience.  And the consequences of the division of property and debt, child support and the parenting plan, are simply huge.

Most people do a very poor job of handling their own divorce without an attorney.  Would you build a house without a contractor?  Have an operation without a Surgeon?  Repair your broken tooth without a dentist?  You get my drift?

Plan for the divorce.  Save money.  Budget for it.  Find an attorney who will take payments.  Many do.  It is a foolish penny saved to do a divorce on the cheap.  You will regret it.  And it will take much more money to legally straighten it out later when the problems arise.  Trust me.  Do it right the first time.  You will be glad you did.  And please check with local social service agencies to obtain help for your children.  No child should be subjected to an abusive parent, or anyone else for that matter.

Good luck.

Lynda