Our marital assets

[mehalick30]

State: New York
I have been with my wife since 1989, but we did not marry until 1995. I started my own business in 1993 (which has grown every year)...and was pretty much the sole provider until she finished college and got a teaching job in 1998. She did have some minor jobs (waitressing, etc.), but really didn't make much money. In 1999 her grandfather gave us our house which we had been living in since 1993 (the deed was signed over to my wife and her mother). In the spring of 2000 I invested $50,000 into remodeling the house. In January 2001 she left me for another man and wants a divorce, yet I have done nothing wrong. She has no grounds for a divorce and knows that. My questions are as follows:
1.) can I refuse a divorce or separation?
2.) can she go after my business?
3.) what rights do I have to the house and my
$50,000 investment
4.) can she ever make me leave our house?

Thanks for your advice.

[Edited by mehalick30 on 04-29-2001 at 09:20 PM]

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

State: New York
I have been with my wife since 1989, but we did not marry until 1995. I started my own business in 1993 (which has grown every year)...and was pretty much the sole provider until she finished college and got a teaching job in 1998. She did have some minor jobs (waitressing, etc.), but really didn't make much money. In 1999 her grandfather gave us our house which we had been living in since 1993 (the deed was signed over to my wife and her mother). In the spring of 2000 I invested $50,000 into remodeling the house. In January 2001 she left me for another man and wants a divorce, yet I have done nothing wrong. She has no grounds for a divorce and knows that. My questions are as follows:
1.) can I refuse a divorce or separation?
2.) can she go after my business?
3.) what rights do I have to the house and my
$50,000 investment
4.) can she ever make me leave our house?

Thanks for your advice.

[Edited by mehalick30 on 04-29-2001 at 09:20 PM]

My response:

I was quite impressed with your post. Not for how you said it; rather, for what you said.

Please understand, most people who come to these boards are poor - - and, in some respects, poorer than poor, and have gotten themselves into situations where only a Free Advice Board can help, if at all.

FreeAdvice.Com is for everyone, rich or poor, man or woman or child - - so please, don't mistake or misunderstand. It is for you and everyone.

However, as you can plainly see, we have innumerable writers in these situations who cannot afford attorneys, and this Board is, for some, if not most, their last bastian of hope and help.

So, I would ask if you would correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you say, and I'm paraphrasing, that "you spent $50,000.00 on remodeling your home in 2000" and that your "business has been growing each year since 1995" ?

Then, surely, if I'm not mistaken, you can well afford to pay an attorney $250.00 for a consultation to obtain answers to these, and other, questions concerning your situation.

While we try never to turn anyone away, your repeated requests for "help" while you appear to be certainly far better off than most who come to these boards, seems to be a little selfish. Perhaps I'm wrong. I don't think so, but perhaps I am, and I sincerely apologize and beg your indulgence if my presumptions are wrong.

It's just that a fair reading of your posts, with your business wealth and acumen, reveals and reminds me a little of Jack Benny - - the wealthiest "cheap" person around. Or the monied man who stands in a soup line in the 1930's and takes food from those who need it the most, rather than buy his own soup.

See an attorney. You can afford it more than these other good and patient people.

It is for these reasons that I, or probably anyone else, has not responded to you before this.

Thank you for your understanding.

IAAL