Do you go for the jugular in legal matters?

[Dina Lerret]

After way too many months of thinking 'do you want cheese with that
whine' about my mom--plus, I was seriously considering a second job
because my income wasn't enough--I took time out of work today to
schedule and attend a meeting with my mom at her lawyer's office.  She
rarely does such things by herself for fear she'd be taken advantage
because of her weak understanding of English.

As of Sept/Oct 2005, my dad lost the latest (he's on 3rd-4th try and
every judge has ruled he needs to continue paying) alimony case--judge
ruled he's qualified to find a good job as an engineer and to quit
being half-assed about job searching (basic gist of the ruling)--and
he's supposed to pay my mom $1,700/month.  He didn't send her anything
for a few months and then he called to say he found parttime work,
which I appreciate the gesture; however, he kept sending less than
$500/month for nearly half a year.  He's in contempt of court for over
$8,000.  My mom's lawyer says he owes that and legal fees and needs to
start paying the full amount or a lien will be held against his house.

Frankly, I didn't care about the past amount due or even the full
$1,700; I just needed him to pick up more of what the court ordered
him to send because I couldn't support two people on my income.  Heck,
if he didn't send that $500/month, I'd have been in debt up to my
eyeballs.  I don't want my dad to lose his home and I don't want my
mom to lose hers either... Oh yeah, I don't want to be homeless too!
The "critters" at the 'roach motel' would probably miss my place. {g}

I feel bad.  If my dad is *really* trying and can't find a better job,
I'd eat the $8,000+ of my savings.  I initially asked if there was a
way for my dad to send some sort of 'progress report' but the lawyer
said 'he owes the money, there is no progress report'.  My mom and dad
had a very messy divorce from a legal standpoint.

:-(

Heh, I got a wedding invitation today.  Life has a sense of irony.

Dina