I have just recently learned my wife of 26 years is planning on filing for divorce. I do not want the divorce - I don't believe we have irreconcilable differences at all. She has seen a lawyer and she told me she as signed the paperwork but that she doesn't intend to file until after our youngest son's birthday in January (he turns 18). She says she believes we can negotiate our own settlement so no need to contest. I have three questions right now: One, can I contest just the grounds for divorce to appeal to the court to recommend counseling or something? Two, I supported my wife all through the last year of college and then graduate school so she could earn her professional degree. Over the years she has earned more than me - if you disregard those first five years. However, almost 45% of the income I've earned since then (21 years) came in a 5 year period ending in 2006 when I was fired from that job and have zero prospect of returning to work in my profession due to that incident. I am still unemployed although I have had a consulting contract that paid me about $60K from last October until now. Contract ends this month. A one-time deal - there is no way to enter into a similar deal with anyone. Meanwhile, my wife just negotiated a deal with her company to switch jobs and will now be contract rather than employee. She was earning $52K per year. Her gross under new deal will be about $96K per year. She has to travel 5 days a week for new job. Under this scenario I believe I am entitled to something either maintenance or property to offset discrepancy in income. Our 17 year old son (18 in January)will live with me (at home if I can keep her from selling the house). How would the judge go about figuring out what our incomes are for this purpose? Three, my wife claims she did not have to include an "offer" or "request" as to property division etc. in the complaint she signed. Can that be accurate?