Cathy, I adore your father. Ask him what day he wants to come with his chain saw at anywhere from 4 to 5 am and see how much noise we can make. And I would love any ferns you can spare to help replant what has been despoiled. I have asked several tree companies to come for an estimate of whether the trees that have been splintered and topped will survive and be healthy or should they just come down. But after last week's storms, it will two weeks before they can get to me. With those figures in hand I can proceed with the registered letters etc. I want to take these buttheads to court because ever siince they moved in, they have trampled my property. The easement that is the common driveway is 10 feet wide, but since the day they moved in they have driven off the side of the driveway and over my plants. When I complained they said I should not plant along side the driveway. They only stopped when I told them I was having tire spikes installed along side of the driveway and perhaps that woudld teach them to be able to stay on a 10-foot wide blacktop. One of them ran over the dog of the people who live next closer to the road than me on the driveway. What made me maddest was the wife saying she had talked to her insurance company and they said because the dog wasn't on a leash she wasn't responsible for the vet bills. I asked if she had told her insurance company that the dog was on its own property at the time (sleeping, not running into the path of the car. The driveway is an easement, not joint property). Not to mention the moral responsibility. They eventually paid the vet bills and the dog is ok today. These peole need a lesson and I think being dragged into court would be it. The wife (who handles things contracts with landscapers and tree companies) said she watched them go onto to my property and break up my trees and plants, but it was more important to have her trees taken down so she told them it was ok I would go after the tree company but the butthead neighbors will not provide the name of the company. One lawyer I talked to said that homeowners are also responsible for dangerous work done on their property and tree removal is considerd dangerous. And that their continued refusal to provide the name leaves them solely responsible. I'm thinking seriously about having a banner made to hang from my deck which is now clearly visible from their windows (despite their saying the big tree they took down had no leaves) that says something like Deadbeat despoilers live next door. I'm seriously considering putting in a fence and giving the neighborhood teenagers cans of spray paint to decorate the butthead neighbor's side.

Well its not really free... I pay my monthly dues. Its like insurance.... You never know if you need an attorney. The last time I was in any sort of trouble was fall of 1996 (speeding ticket) Since being a member in 1997 I have called them 15-20 times. My questions have been mostly about rental disputes. I was managing a upstairs condo for a friend and the association said I was breaking the rules by alowing a child to live on the second floor. It was even in their by-laws but I knew it was discrimination. They even had the attorney that drew up the rules call me direct. I argued with him and had my attorneys write them a letter. Last I heard on the issue. The drawing up of a will and changing it as my life changes more than pays my dues. In Europe its as common as car insurance here. I could care less if anyone gets it or not. Just wanted to inform people its out there. Its also about the same cost as renters insurance. Next to nothing.

First, my compliments for behaving like an adult and being able to work together with your husband to reach an agreement about what you both consider to be best for your daughter. That says a lot about both of you, and bodes well for your daughter's future. That said, Azzalea's right about your really needing a lawyer. NOT to fight things out with your husband, or even to 'get' all you can. Mainly just to be sure that your interests and your daughter's are protected and that you reach an agreement that addresses ALL areas of likely future conflict. Also, if you and your husband have agreed to the particulars, odds are good there will be some things you want to do differently than the "standard" Texas divorce and custody arrangments, and those will need to be written out in legalese. There are some divorce lawyers that prefer to 'mediate' rather than litigate divorce agreements, and finding one of these sounds like a good fit for you. One of these lawyers will appreciate your choice to be 'civilized' and will work with you to keep things amiable. But at the same time, the lawyer will work to protect your interests. For example, there's a HUGE legal difference between saying "Father will provide health insurance for minor child" and saying "as additional child support, Father will provide health insurance for minor child" -- NOT the kind of thing you would know, right? So get a good lawyer -- you don't need a 'shark', but don't go with a rookie either. To minimize your costs, do your homework and bring it with you to your meeting. Things to include: - your proposed custody arrangements (regular days, summers, holidays, distance stipulations, who drives?, relocation restrictions?, anything that changes with the child's age?) - financial information - assets and liabilities, and your proposed property distribution, tax issues, responsibility for debts, credit cards, accounts, etc. - any special concerns you have -- medical? legal? religious? re-marriage issues? dating or 'sleepover' restrictions? Check out some 'do it yourself' type divorce web sites for the types of information you'll need. But again, DON'T do it yourself! Good luck to you --

Sometimes people are very angry & vengeful when there's a break-up, & they spend their time & energy thinking of ways to punish the other party or make the other party's life much more difficult, & they always seem to think that *nobody* ever thought of these things before & that *nobody* will be able to figure out that that's what's going on or to put a stop to it. The only thing I can't figure out here is what the heck the Realtor can possibly be thinking. What was the question? Oh, yeah. Go to the broker. Don't waste time with the soon-to-be-ex, don't add to the attorney bill (divorce attorneys see these ugly behaviors every day), don't try to reason with the Realtor. Go to the broker, ask for a different, unbiased agent to be assigned, & if you sense any reluctance from him/her, mention the Real Estate Commission. I wish you the very best.