3 month Marriage. NOW DIVORCE.

[kykysb]

Trying to help a friend.

My friend married almost 3 months ago. Married and living in Mobile, Alabama. STBX had a home that was about to be foreclosed on. Tried to refinance alone but due to high debt to income and not enough personal income, STBX couldn’t do it alone therefore  my friend signed the mortgage.  The refinance paid credit card debt off for both (friend had a little debt, maybe 5K) STBX went out and charged another 15K on credit cards and my friend is over it. Both have agreed to a divorce. STBX has agreed to sell the house but wants my friend to make the mortgage payments until the sell. Also STBX wants my friend to be responsible for all of the new debt. My friends wants out so bad and it thinking about agreeing to this. My friend was added to some of the credit cards but not all.

My friend (now on the mortgage and on some of the credit cards) feels there is no other option. My friend just wants out and quick. If my friend agrees to this what happens if the house doesn’t sell?  Can the divorce stipulate how long my friend is responsible? Should my friend be so willing to take on all of this after just 3 months of marriage;  just to get out? How quick does a noncontested divorce take? Can my friend draw up the papers or should a lawyer be involved?
What are the standard filing fees in Mobile? What are the standard fees for attorneys in the Mobile area for a noncontested divorce?

Looking for answers to help a friend.

[Lee Borden]

If my friend agrees to this what happens if the house doesn’t sell?
Then your friend is stuck paying the mortgage indefinitely. At a minimum, I would think it would be important that he maintain the authority to set price and terms for sale.

Can the divorce stipulate how long my friend is responsible?
Yes. But what happens after that? It's not enough to set a deadline. They also have to agree on what happens after that deadline.

Should my friend be so willing to take on all of this after just 3 months of marriage;  just to get out?
Not my call. If he does, he can perhaps just call it a "stupid tax" and chalk it up to an expensive lesson well learned.

How quick does a noncontested divorce take?
If they were to use me, about seven weeks.

Can my friend draw up the papers or should a lawyer be involved?
Not my call. He can read about the risk of rejection at http://www.divorceinfo.com/udrejection.htm and make his own decision.

What are the standard filing fees in Mobile? What are the standard fees for attorneys in the Mobile area for a noncontested divorce?
I don't know. He can check out my fees at http://www.divorceinfo.com/alflatrates.htm and then check around to compare prices.