I used to be married to a “person” for 25 years. He had used others earlier than me. I used to be the breadwinner by its entirety. He hardly ever held any kind of job and went by all my belongings regardless that his mother and father have been highly effective and rich.
I used to be afraid to go away him attributable to their energy and was all the time informed by his mother and father that every little thing would even be mine at their deaths. I attempted to get one thing legally in writing, however their lawyer suggested them towards it.
I caught it out. They handed away. I used to be left almost penniless whereas he inherited over half one million {dollars}, if no more. I used to be informed I’m not entitled to something he was bequeathed. He was an solely little one.
I used to be informed that he may take half of my pension for all times and that I may need to pay him alimony. I labored so laborious for a few years to be left with nothing. He’s even capable of obtain my Social Safety.
We bought divorced 10 years in the past and it nonetheless stings. Do I’ve any recourse?
-Empty-Handed Ex
Expensive Empty-Handed,
There’s no state of affairs I can think about the place you’re capable of get a chunk of your ex’s inheritance. I want I had higher information to give you. However maybe accepting it will aid you discover closure for a painful chapter of your life.
Even when one partner is the breadwinner, most cash earned throughout a wedding is taken into account marital property, that means it will get cut up between each spouses (although not essentially 50/50). However inheritances and presents are often handled as separate property, which solely belong to 1 partner and aren’t divided up throughout divorce.
In case your late in-laws had meant for each of you to inherit their cash, they need to have listed you as a beneficiary of their will or belief. I’m guessing they knew that and lied to you after they promised you half of every little thing. I’m so sorry you have been manipulated on this means.
If it’s any comfort, maybe it’s that you simply by no means need to cope with your ex-husband once more. (You’re in all probability right in that he can use your work file to get Social Safety, however that doesn’t have an effect on you in any means.) Even when there was a risk of getting this cash, I’d think about you’d be in for a protracted and protracted court docket combat. And after 10 years, who is aware of if there’s even any cash left to combat over?
It’s comprehensible why you’re nonetheless hurting, even 10 years later. You have been used and lied to, but you don’t have any recourse. However generally accepting an disagreeable actuality can really be empowering.
You already know that you simply’re not getting a chunk of your ex-husband’s inheritance, so you can also make plans accordingly. Perhaps that can imply working longer than you’d hoped or downsizing in retirement. These in all probability aren’t the options you wish to hear. However shifting ahead, a minimum of you can also make selections primarily based on actuality, slightly than some distant hope of getting a part of an inheritance.
Ending this marriage clearly got here at a excessive value to you. That will nonetheless sting, however I hope you notice it was price each PNW Reader to have this man out of your life.
Robin Hartill is a licensed monetary planner and a senior author at The PNW. Ship your tough cash inquiries to [email protected].