Learned Lawyers,
Background: Wife living seperately for last 3 years. No understanding between us to continue family life. Marriage has irretreivably broken down. Wife working in her hometown, have a 4 year old daughter in her care. Both of us have arrived at a consensus to mutually seperate. However, they are yet to place their demands. Understanding that she does not want to continue in this marriage, father in law planning to extract maximum compensation in negotiations.
Please could you advice me as under
1. What is the procedure for Mutual Consent Divorce ? Any any learned member provide me a draft copy of a Mutual Consent Divorce petition (in word file format ?).
2. When already the seperation is for more than a continous period of 2 years, can the 6 month cool of period be waived off ?
3. What safeguards should I take when it comes to negotiating settlement money ?
4. What precations should I take when I pay settlement money ( keeping in mind she can backtrack on her commitment and not present herself in court for 2nd motion, or withdraw from the petition of mutual consent).
5. Can the court appoint a mediator / arbitrator ?
6. How do I ensure that my child gets the benifit of settlement money and my in-laws dont directly benefit with the settlement money they have received. This is because the lumpsum money might be used for their other family needs without directly benefiting the child.
7. How do I ensure that I continue to get visitation / unrestricted visitation to the child or even custody at a later stage. How do I put thses clause in the final settlement. What should I do in case they do not allow me visit the child in the future and they back-track on conditions.
8. How to ensure that she will not drag me or anybody else from my family to court in a false dowry harrasment case after the settlement is reached ?
Would it be a better option to instead file RCR in court (since wife is not interested in continuing relationship) and try to win RCR and then file divorce for wife not complying with RCR. Should I try and fight the case on merits (since I have made sincere efforts for reconciliation).
Will settlement amount or alimony prescribed by court be less in this case, though I know this will take atleast 3 years of my life.
Hoping that you can give me appropriate advice,
Regards, Sushant (please mail me or pm me !!)