By GREGORY KATZ Associated Press WriterLONDON Mar 19, 2008 (AP)
The Associated Press
(ABCNews Photo Illustration)
“To some extent she is her own worst enemy,” wrote Judge Hugh Bennett. “She has an explosive and volatile character.”
Mills, who lost part of her leg when she was hit by a motorcycle, cast McCartney as an abusive, alcoholic husband who cruelly made fun of her disability. But the judge made clear the angry assertions rang hollow.
In a devastating indictment, Bennett called Mills’ testimony “not just inconsistent and inaccurate, but also less than candid. Overall she was a less than impressive witness.”
By contrast, the judge praised McCartney, 65, for “consistent, accurate and honest” testimony in the ruling, made public after he rejected Mills’ attempt to block its release.
Calling Mills’ demand of $250 million from McCartney “exorbitant” in light of their four-year marriage, the judge said her claims may have been inflated because of her estranged husband’s stature.
“The wife … must have felt rather swept off her feet by a man as famous as the husband,” he wrote. “I think this may well have warped her perception, leading her to indulge in make-believe. The objective facts do not support her case.”
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He said Mills, 40, had “unreasonably” expected that she would be able to live the deluxe McCartney lifestyle for the rest of her life even after she divorced the pop star.
“Although she strongly denied it, her case boils down to the syndrome of ‘me too’ or ‘if he has it, I want it, too,’” he wrote in awarding Mills $48.6 million.
Mills maintained she needed $6.4 million a year for herself and her daughter, Beatrice, as well as multi-million dollar properties in London and New York, and money for an office in Brighton, on England’s south coast.
Instead, the judge said Mills could get by on $1.2 million a year and one property, worth $5 million, in London.
- Poor communication
- Financial problems
- A lack of commitment to the marriage
- A dramatic change in priorities
- Infidelity
- Failed expectations or unmet needs
- Addictions and substance abuse
- Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
- Lack of conflict resolution skills
Selecting a Divorce Attorney by Munish Dev Rathee
Selecting a divorce attorney is a vital decision making process. The person who you take on will be liable for obtaining or maintaining your custody rights to your children, your property interests, and depending upon the side you are one, either minimizing or maximizing your support rights. In reality, choosing a divorce attorney is also an very stressful experience. You have to be right in choosing your attorney otherwise you will have to suffer a lot.
There are few tactics which you should remember before selecting an attorney. Before you even begin, you need to identify the type of case that you will be involved in. Will you be mediating your divorce? Will you be negotiating? Or, will your case be one of those cases that go to court and become a knock down, drag out divorce litigation? There are divorce attorneys who specialize in these different types of cases and you need to appoint the type of divorce attorney who is best suited to the type of case that you have. If you need to deal with a knock down, drag out litigation, you do not want a mediation attorney trying to defend your interests. Likewise, if you are going through mediation, the last thing you want is a divorce attorney who will try to build issues and move you in the direction of litigation.
The very first step in selecting your attorney is to identify your case. Next, start asking people for help. Since the divorce rate in the United States is at about 50%, chances are you know at least several people who have been through a divorce. Ask about their process, how they selected a divorce attorney, and how their attorney performed for them.
After getting the list of attorneys from other persons you should start looking for their profile from the internet by visiting their websites. Many divorce attorneys have websites, write articles, and advertise on divorce portal websites. By visiting their websites you come to know how they deal in different cases and some of them had posted case study to know what’s are the different tactics used by them to deal different type of cases.
After you have reviewed the divorce attorney websites, make a list of at least two and as many as five divorce attorneys who you think you will be comfortable speaking with. Take appointment by calling in their offices in working hours. Some of those attorneys will charge you for a consultation; the more experience the attorney has, the more likely that you will have to pay for time with that attorney.
When you attend a discussion with a divorce attorney, be prepared. prepare a small history of your case which going to help you out while discussing your case with him/her. If you or your spouse has filed any papers in court, make sure you bring them with you. Bring one or two years tax returns or a recent financial statement so that the divorce attorney can review some of your financial data before being asked questions about “results”.
Make sure you ask each divorce attorney questions about how that attorney’s office operates in response to client phone calls, emails, or other inquiries or needs. If you will be working with a divorce attorney who has no other attorney in their office, be prepared to wait in line when you have a need for a response. That attorney will have other clients who have needs just as significant as yours, and an attorney can be responsive to only one client at a time. Even with that disadvantage, there may be a divorce attorney who you feel is just right for you who is also a solo practitioner. That is a trade off that you may have to get comfortable with.
After you have finished all of the consultations and reviewed the answers to all of your questions, decide which divorce attorney you felt most comfortable with and which one you believe will work with you to get the type of results that you want.
About the Author
Munish Rathee working for Visibility Partners, the client sites he is working on are Naperville Divorce Attorney, Sonoma County Divorce Attorney, New Jersey Divorce Attorneys.
www.MortgageVictory.com
Bankruptcy is an uncomfortable subject for a variety of reasons. The most obvious is the potential havoc it can wreak on your finances. Running a close second is the negative stigma which is often attached to the process. This negativity is important to mention because strong emotions can sometimes lead to unsound financial decisions with devastating results.
Bankruptcy becomes a viable option for someone who is “upside down” in terms of cash flow. In other words, when a person has more money going out each month than coming in, bankruptcy should be considered if no reversal of this negative cash flow is within sight. The longer someone waits to explore the various options available, the more serious his or her situation may become.
One of the worst things people can do in this situation is to borrow more money to try and pay off their debts. On paper, this is clearly an unwise financial decision. In the real world, however, it is very common for individuals to pursue this strategy in an attempt to buy time and hold off on filing for bankruptcy. On the surface, this is certainly a noble notion; however it can often compound the problem and serves only to delay the inevitable.
For many homeowners in the midst of this upside down cash flow, speaking to a qualified mortgage professional is a much better option. An experienced loan officer can objectively look at your finances and help you determine if restructuring your mortgage would not only help, but possibly even alleviate any need for bankruptcy.
If bankruptcy is the only option, seek out a reputable bankruptcy attorney and credit counselor. A qualified mortgage specialist can provide references for you as well, as he or she works with these professionals on a regular basis. Reliable references are essential in this case because experienced professionals greatly increase the odds of a successful bankruptcy experience. It’s that simple.
When filing for bankruptcy, be completely honest and accurate regarding every aspect of your financial situation. This includes any changes to your income which may occur throughout the process. Bankruptcy is a federal procedure, adjudicated by real judges, and scrutinized by representatives who coordinate with the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the IRS.
Here are some additional steps from www.mortgagevictory.com you can take to make the bankruptcy process as painless as possible:
Save all paperwork regarding your bankruptcy, and keep it organized. This will prove beneficial after your bankruptcy as you now have all of the pertinent information in one place. Also, be sure to write down your discharge date. It’s surprising how many people forget to do this.
Establish a household budget. This can be accomplished in many ways, but there are several inexpensive computer programs available which do an excellent job.
Throughout the bankruptcy, do your best to not only live below your means, but to save as much cash as possible. You never know what you may need it for once the process is completed.
Be prepared for a barrage of junk mail. There will be sharks on the loose who are hoping to capitalize on your need for credit.
Tips for Rebuilding Credit from www.mortgagevictory.biz :
If you must buy a car, focus on transportation as opposed to style. Buy an inexpensive, used car, and try to get a loan for it. It’s a good idea to figure out what your budget allows in terms of a dollar amount first. This means obtaining financing prior to looking for a car.
Get a secured credit card. Secured credit cards allow for the cardholder to deposit a said amount of money into an account, thus establishing the spending limit of the card. Missed payments result in deductions from the account. Some of these cards will reward responsible borrowers by upping the limit without an additional deposit. Some will even convert the account into a traditional credit card. (Be wary of offers of “easy credit” or any card which asks you to call a 900 number. You will be charged for the call.)
Meet with a credit repair specialist. Not only can they help you clean up the damage to your credit report, they can advise you on specific ways to rebuild the credit you lost as well.
While it does take time, there is definitely life (and credit) after bankruptcy. Some mortgage lenders will even lend to you within a year or so after a bankruptcy. If you’re in serious financial trouble, the trick is to get the help and advice you need from professionals you trust.
Frank Kelly is affiliated with Panam Mortgages, a Licensed Broker, NY Department of Real Banking. For a free copy of our Consumer Credit Scoring Booklet, contact Frank Kelly at (866) 892-4163. http://www.mortgagevictory.biz
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SUBMITTED BY:
FRANK KELLY
866-892-4163
FAX 800-507-4291
EMAIL info@mortgagevictory.com