Chapter 23 - The divorce math
Divorce was less dramatic than fraud.
And more exhausting.
The Lincoln Park house had:
A mortgage.
Appreciation.
Marital equity.
Renovation costs partly funded by money later connected to Daniel’s scheme.
That required forensic tracing.
The $18,200 payment that benefited our renovation became important.
Investigators ultimately found I had no knowledge of its source.
In divorce, however, the money still had to be accounted for.
Daniel’s business shares required valuation.
His legal liabilities reduced value.
But courts do not simply transfer a company to a spouse because one spouse behaves badly.
We negotiated.
I kept the house subject to refinancing and offsetting other assets.
Daniel retained most of his remaining Bennett Meridian equity, though company agreements and later civil settlement restricted his role.
Retirement accounts were divided.
Legal fees hurt both of us.
No secret hundred-million-dollar victory.
My financial life became smaller.
May you like
Also mine.
I preferred that.
