I have a very good friend who has six children.  Their ages are 18, 16, 10 year old twins, and 2 year old twins.  The two sets of twins are by the same dad, and the first two are with her first husband. She has been going to school to become a Radiology technician, and has two years left in the program.  Recently, her husband moved out, and filed for separation. This comes right after he moved the family into a 2400 per month townhome.  (He owns his own business).

My question is this:  What can she do in order to expedite the hearing?  He gave her only 1/4 of the rent money, and has paid her nothing except that.  She has borrowed from her family to try and keep her head above water.  She is beginning to panic due to the rent being over due, among other things.

She needs some help, and quick.  Her court date is not until March, and by then she and the kids may be homeless thanks to him.

Any advice or ideas would be very welcome!

Thanks

s

They will know how to get a court order to get him to continue paying up on the neccessities.

Judges are loath to let evictions occur especially where children are involved.

She should remember that "his" money is not really his; I good chunk of it is hers as well.  

It took my ex all of 24 hours to get an order on me and she's the one who left the house!

(still not a lawyer)

Thank you for your response.  The problem here is that she HAS NO MONEY to retain an attorney.  Sure, she can go to the courthouse and try and do it herself, but with that many kids, school, and just being overwhelmed by everything... she is drowning. I would love to get concrete information about what paper(s) to file on her behalf to get her in front of a judge pronto!

She just doesn't know it yet.

Right now she and her soon to be ex think that his money is "his" money.  It ain't.

A good chunk of it - up to half - is hers.  A lawyer will know just what to do.  

Have her ask around to friends who have had divorces or who know someone who has and was satisfied with their attorney; or call the local bar association and ask for a reference.

(still not a lawyer)

You said that the husband "filed for separation."  Every initial legal suit must have a cover page notice served on the defendant which reads in part something to the effect, "If you do not have an attorney, contact the following address..."  Ordinarily, it's the local bar association or legal aid center for those unable to afford an attorney.

It is important to know whaat state your friend lives in as dissolution is variable from state to state.  If she's in California, there are self-help sites for this on the net and on some county court sites.  Nolo Press produces good inexpensive do-it-yourself California family law books, about $25 each as i recall.  If in California, send me an email address and perhaps we can exchange information.