I do not want a divorce right now, but current legal counsel has told me I need to file to get seperate maitanance money, or my share of the money. My husband got laid off and has a four and a half month severence ck coming, and I do not have a good job... I just found a part time job last wk, he was supporting me and the kids, 2, age 9 and 3, until he moved out 2 months ago, when I caught him cheating.<p>Well, he has since stopped seeing OW, and is going to counseling with me in a wk... we may be moving forward towards reconciliation, but I am afraid of losing that much money. He has given me roughly 20-25% of his income since he left, 25% is child support requirement in this state. He feels this is all he legally has to do.<p>He is wrong, he does have legal obligations for sep. mait. for a while anyway... since he left so suddenly and I am without means of restoring or taking on all financial obligations so quickly... <p>well, I do not want to discourage him from working things out. But this is a substantial amount of money for me and the kids to lose. My feelings are if he really wants to stay in the marriage, then he will try to fix things. I tried for a while.. I lost it for a while in the beginning... begging, crying, pleading, notes, etc.. Now, I am kind of to the pt after 2 months of separation and little action on his part except for sleeping with me a couple of times.... whch was nice... but we could not talk about the problems... he basically wanted service... which he will not get anymore without commitment and treating me right. I am sick over this.<p>Anyway- afraid I will destry our chances of wking things out, or push them farther away by filing... but feel I have to file to protect me and kids. My husband blows money and is somewhat irresponsible with money. He has a drinking problem, alcoholic... which is part of the whole mess.<p>Please offer advice, I am worried, but feel I have to do this. Maybe just legal seperation, but I do not really know the difference.<p>Thanks.
