Here's what happened to me so watch out:
* He refused to move out of the house so I did. He didn't pay the mortgage after I left so he could live there rent free. He did so for six months. He never told me he wasn't paying the mortgage and by the time I found out it was too late and we lost the house.
*He fought me for everything of any value. He kept the new refrigerator, washer and dryer, newer living room and bedroom furniture. After he got literally kicked out of the house he put it all in storage. He wouldn't even allow me to come and get my personal belongings such as school yearbooks, pictures, letters, etc. out of the garage. It all got put in storage under his name. He didn't pay the storage bill and they auctioned it all off. I lost everything.
* He forged my name on credit offers (you know the unsolicited ones that come saying "you're pre-approved"). Then he charged up the cards to the tune of $30K
* The credit cards that already existed in our names were divided equally in half per the settlement agreement. But the credit card companies refused to take my name off of the cards or to allow me to only pay my half in full. They said I was liable for the entire balance since he refused to pay his half. They could care less about any "settlement agreement."
* The checking account was in both our names. Didn't think to close it. I just took my half and opened a new account. Well, they were both with B of A. When he bounced $7000 worth of checks, the bank took the money right out of my account. When I called and complained they said they were entitled since both accounts had my name on them. Big mistake!!! Make sure you CLOSE your account. Do not keep anything with both yours and her name on it.
* We had agreed he would pay me child support and I wouldn't garnish his wages. He never paid. When I garnished his wages, he lost his job. To this day he owes me $120,000. If we had kept the house, I could sell it now and keep the entire profit. My loss.
* We owned a time share free and clear. He refused to sign it over to me. I said we could share it and alternate years. The first half of the maintenance/tax installment I would pay, the second he would pay. I paid my half, he didn't pay his. It went on my credit report. I wasn't allowed to use it until he paid his half. He refused. I finally said okay then quit claim it to me. He said no. So I quit claimed it to him. He let it go.
Sometimes a vindictive ex will do anything to spite you. Even to their own detriment. In my case he was/is a drug addict and could care less about things like credit, owning a home, child support, etc. So he was just out to hurt me any way he could. You never know when they're going to go berzerk. So take every precaution you can. Don't trust that things will go smoothly and that they'll be nice. There is no such thing in divorce.
