LA Fisher
Banned
I was 42 when I brought a 22 year old mail order bride to the US on a fiancee visa. I am now 55, she 36. She came here with nothing, no English, and no education past high school. We now have healthy 10 year-old twins, and she just graduated from college with an Accounting degree that I mostly paid for. She has a $15K student loan that I am willing to pay off.The remainder (approx $23) was paid by me. She does not have a job (yet). She worked may 10 hrs/week PT while pursuing her degree.
I owned the house that we live in prior to her coming here, and it is now fully paid for. I have been at the same company for 29 years. I am eligible for full retirement in 3 years, and can take a reduced early retirement this year. Most of my financial assets are held in trust, with my kids named as heir. We have only had a joint checking account for about a year.
My wife wants a divorce. There are no particular reasons other than she wants out of the marriage, and is bitter that I have not made her a co-owner of the house. There are no issues such as substance abuse, infidelity, health, lifestyle or criminal activities on either of our parts. We are both involved parents and I don't think either of us wants to tear the kids away from the other. Now that she has her college degree and citizenship, I think I have served my purpose and she no longer needs me.
We have a prenup, where she signed away any claims to my assets due to our age differences and relative economic status. Not sure how a judge will view that. But I did have it translated to her native language by a certified translator, and paid for a lawyer for her to consult prior to marrying me. So she cannot claim ignorance or coercion when she signed.
I want to save my marriage and family, and have offered to adjust the terms of my estate planning, and perhaps make her the trustee and possibly the heir of my assets. It may be too late.
Can someone tell me what a reasonable outcome to expect is, in terms of both custody and settlement?
http://www.divorcesource.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=780702&Main=776891