Reached agreement

[carledwards]

W and I were able to hammer out an agreement about custody and assets by ourselves, after I submitted complaint on grounds a few weeks ago. But we were in the middle of extensive discovery and interrogatories and had the scheduling conference and depositions on our calendars. We haven't contacted our attorneys yet, and wondering best way to proceed from here and to stop racking up legal costs, and if we can stop the discovery?

[capslock]

Get your attorney to write up an MSA asap and get it signed.

[BubbaGumpShrimp]

Get your attorney to write up an MSA asap and get it signed.

x2. Do this ASAP before she changes her mind. That's only ~$300 (in VA...at least).

[Guitargrinder]

Caps lock, what is an msa?

[kal]

MSA = Marital Settlement Agreement

[hoosier_dad]

Get your attorney to write up an MSA asap and get it signed.

Also there is a very good reason you want your attorney writing up the agreement instead of hers. You avoid the risk of land mines being inserted into the agreement by her attorney, and you won't save any money since you would need to have it reviewed by your attorney anyway.

[carledwards]

But all discovery is cancelled I assume once it's signed?

Is there still the mandatory 1 year waiting period living apart as required here
when the contested becomes uncontested before a judge can sign off on it?

[BubbaGumpShrimp]

But all discovery is cancelled I assume once it's signed?

Is there still the mandatory 1 year waiting period living apart as required here
when the contested becomes uncontested before a judge can sign off on it?

The standard waiting period still applies. i.e. In VA...it's 1 year for uncontested where there are children of the marriage. In VA...uncontested and no children of the marriage is six months (if there's a PSA/MSA).

[Southern.Putter]

In the MSA, you do need to have some text that clearly indicates that she is represented and advised by an attorney that is different than yours. Some guys have had their MSA's overturned or modified due to the wife later coming back and claiming that she did not have legal counsel, wanted it, but was bullied into using husband's lawyer. Ouch!

[carledwards]

Unfortunately, her atty disagrees with the agreement we reached together and their proposal now is much higher than we agreed, plus premarital assets are being questioned since they can't be proved with what I have. Would a forensic accountant provide help in that case? Do I try to reach agreement in mediation or keep paying and pushing for trial?