Refuting charges in a default annulment declaration by ex-wife

[imageshaker]

My ex-wife filed for an annulment (which I am quite happy about), and because I was in a very bad emotional and economic spot at the time, I missed the deadline for filing a response and it became a default. The judge decided on the case just last week and the declaration my ex filed was FILLED with lies, outright fabrications, distortions and malicious slander. I was only married to her for 11 months and it was 11 months of sheer horror. Her whole intent is to destroy my reputation by portraying me as a monster. Is there anything I can do to at the very least, present my side in the documents or because it was a default, is my only option to attempt to get a "set aside". This seems to be a grave miscarriage of justice.

 

[army judge]

Your horrible marriage is ended.

She's moved on, you should, too!

Nothing you could say would change the final result, an annulment.

That's what you both wanted, right?

Now you've got it, let it go.

Doing what you want won't change the result.

Besides, it wasn't justice, either of you sought.

It was an annulment, a civil matter.

 

[imageshaker]

Yes, you and I are in agreement. Respectfully, what you are saying is/has been a foregone conclusion. I am not I am only asking if it is within my legal right to enter a response against her smearing of my character. I am by no means, whatsoever, "not letting go", I am trying to protect my reputation. Perhaps I wasn't clear about that in my post. I am asking if anyone who is knowledgeable about the way these laws work can tell me if there is ANYTHING I can do to give my side in the court documents OTHER than the "set aside" motion?

 

[army judge]

Yes, you and I are in agreement. Respectfully, what you are saying is/has been a foregone conclusion. I am not I am only asking if it is within my legal right to enter a response against her smearing of my character. I am by no means, whatsoever, "not letting go", I am trying to protect my reputation. Perhaps I wasn't clear about that in my post. I am asking if anyone who is knowledgeable about the way these laws work can tell me if there is ANYTHING I can do to give my side in the court documents OTHER than the "set aside" motion?

No.
You defaulted.
You could try and appeal it, but you have no basis for the appeal.
You don't disagree with the result.
You just want to be heard.
Nothing you could have said would have ended in a different result.
My answer is free.
I am knowledgeable.
I'm a licensed attorney.
Now, you could pay one of my brothers or sisters at the bar about $1,000 to receive the same answer.
Or, you could hire one of those same brothers or sisters at the bar to file a motion with requesting leave to amend the record.
If that happens (which I doubt is possible on this type of action), they'll gladly take anywhere from $2,500 to $4,500 to try that for you.

 

[imageshaker]

Army judge,

Thank you so much for your feedback. I have to add that in addition to the lies she has spewed out in this "declaration" she wants over $40,000 which she is claiming I owe her, (most of which were gifts that she bought me on her own initiative) and she is demanding $6000 in legal fees. I can't afford an attorney. The attorney notified me that if I don't pay the $6000 right away that he may file a contempt of court charge. Again, remember that I was only married to her for 11 months. I make $500 a week and over a third of that goes for child support. The rest goes to rent, food and that' about it. She has a history of making what was private very public. I wouldn't put it past her to publicize her lies, since she works in media. She makes 4 - 5 times as much money as I do. Yet, the court may indeed rule in her favor, all because I, because of emotional trauma (on her part), economic difficulty, and near homelessness at the time, did not have the slightest clue what or how to respond to the document, because it was through a "mediation" firm here. I am stressing out about this big time. What do I do?