Divorce Attorneys

My husband walked out of our marriage with no warning and sent me a text msg followed up with a voice mail that he was depressed, wasn't getting better and felt he needed to move in with his parents.

I live in a small town south of Savannah in GA. The attorney I saw said that since I owned the house before we married, he "most likely" wouldn't have a claim on it because he had a house at the same time that was rented out to tenants (the rent money going to pay off his mortgage to his parents on a zero interest mortgage).

Because he had terrible credit (had a house foreclosed on him), he couldn't get any credit at all. So, when we needed a new heat pump and repainted, etc, I took out a second mortgage in my name only. Same with credit cards...  I handled all the finances for the homes, his business (he's self-employed) and we only had a joint checking account and joint savings account.

The attorney I saw said that most likely all the debt accumulated during the marriage would be split up 50/50 - his home would remain his home (where he's moved to) and my home would remain my home).

Because I didn't have a job when he walked out, I am behind but catching up on all the important bills but am late late late on my credit cards. So, my credit now stinks too. My lawyer wants a $3,500 retainer, won't do a payment plan and suggests I borrow it from friends or family. He knows the attorney my husband will use and said if my husband was agreeable, the four of us would sit down and try to get all this agreed to in one meeting. I don't think this will happen because he feels since he left - and everything is in my name - I should have to pay all the debt accumulated during our marriage. I don't have $3,500 to pay an attorney but this guy said he would try to save money by setting up the first meeting and if it couldn't be worked out, he would just take it to court. And NO, there is NO WAY my husband would have to pay for my attorney.

How do people even get started in a divorce if they're already broke, don't have access to credit (I have a lot of equity, but wrong time to sell as everyone knows) and in a situation where someone just leaves them stuck with everything?

Am I one of the few that really needs a lawyer to fight for me but can't afford even the retainer, let alone the extra cost to go to court?