You need to file ASAP and incorporate the agreement into the divorce decree. Then you can enforce it

Anonymous wrote:Our separation papers are done. My attorney told me I can file the papers myself when it's time and was wondering if others have done the same, and how difficult it was? Ours has been very amicable. I looked on Fairfax County's website and it seems kind of vague and overwhelming at the same time.

His attorney accepted them from my attorney. Ask your attorney to do this to not have to "serve" him in person.

Anonymous wrote:

a) life insurance for children (at least 500k) until they are 22 or graduate from college - whatever comes first;

b) child support until children are 22 or graduate from college, whatever comes first;

c) child college fund (529 or pre-paid college tuition) contribution to the tune of xx amount until children are 18y old.

Great ideas. I did that. My ex stopped paying all three of them - because, just didn’t feel like paying any more - and my lawyer pretty much said too bad for me, I just have to suck it up even though it explicitly violates our written agreement.

Yeah, but can't you always change the agreement?

a) life insurance for children (at least 500k) until they are 22 or graduate from college - whatever comes first;

b) child support until children are 22 or graduate from college, whatever comes first;

c) child college fund (529 or pre-paid college tuition) contribution to the tune of xx amount until children are 18y old.

Great ideas. I did that. My ex stopped paying all three of them - because, just didn’t feel like paying any more - and my lawyer pretty much said too bad for me, I just have to suck it up even though it explicitly violates our written agreement.

Anonymous wrote:Our separation papers are done. My attorney told me I can file the papers myself when it's time and was wondering if others have done the same, and how difficult it was? Ours has been very amicable. I looked on Fairfax County's website and it seems kind of vague and overwhelming at the same time.

I just wanted to say as a person who used to practice family law (albeit in another country - but human beings are essentially the same everywhere) - get everything you can possibly need NOW, while it is fresh and S.O. didn't move on and formed another family unit. Such as:

a) life insurance for children (at least 500k) until they are 22 or graduate from college - whatever comes first;

b) child support until children are 22 or graduate from college, whatever comes first;

c) child college fund (529 or pre-paid college tuition) contribution to the tune of xx amount until children are 18y old.

These are the MUST have in my book, unless you have a very good income on your own and doesn't need any of that. If you need S.O. to contribute in any shape or form to children's support/college, get it in writing NOW!

Can't your attorney do it? Or tell you exactly what you're supposed to do?

Our separation papers are done. My attorney told me I can file the papers myself when it's time and was wondering if others have done the same, and how difficult it was? Ours has been very amicable. I looked on Fairfax County's website and it seems kind of vague and overwhelming at the same time.