Statute of Limitation on divorce settlement?

[leslied65]

Washington state

My divorce was final in 2007 and I am wondering if it can be re-opened? I was married for 20 years and left the marriage with no assets. After speaking with friends who have gone through the same thing, they are telling me that I should have received some kind of monetary settlement; half of his 401K, half the home equity, or some of the furnishings. I was ordered to pay child support and was not allowed to claim any of my 3 children on my tax returns. I will add that during the divorce proceedings I broke my wrist and underwent 4 surgeries and was heavily medicated. I know it has been many years, but I feel I really got taken to the cleaners! My children are now 28, 25 and 23 and I am still paying back support. Just recently my driver's license was suspended and I was put in jail over this! I am not able to work due to medical issues, but I have been denied disability.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Just Blue]

Washington state

My divorce was final in 2007 and I am wondering if it can be re-opened? I was married for 20 years and left the marriage with no assets. After speaking with friends who have gone through the same thing, they are telling me that I should have received some kind of monetary settlement; half of his 401K, half the home equity, or some of the furnishings. I was ordered to pay child support and was not allowed to claim any of my 3 children on my tax returns. I will add that during the divorce proceedings I broke my wrist and underwent 4 surgeries and was heavily medicated. I know it has been many years, but I feel I really got taken to the cleaners! My children are now 28, 25 and 23 and I am still paying back support. Just recently my driver's license was suspended and I was put in jail over this! I am not able to work due to medical issues, but I have been denied disability.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Did you have an attorney for your divorce?

 

[LdiJ]

Washington state

My divorce was final in 2007 and I am wondering if it can be re-opened? I was married for 20 years and left the marriage with no assets. After speaking with friends who have gone through the same thing, they are telling me that I should have received some kind of monetary settlement; half of his 401K, half the home equity, or some of the furnishings. I was ordered to pay child support and was not allowed to claim any of my 3 children on my tax returns. I will add that during the divorce proceedings I broke my wrist and underwent 4 surgeries and was heavily medicated. I know it has been many years, but I feel I really got taken to the cleaners! My children are now 28, 25 and 23 and I am still paying back support. Just recently my driver's license was suspended and I was put in jail over this! I am not able to work due to medical issues, but I have been denied disability.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You may or may not have been taken to the cleaners. It all really depends on how the marital assets AND debts were handled. For example, my ex walked away with none of the marital assets, but I also kept all of the marital debt, which was roughly equal to the assets.

What I can comment on is that your youngest turned 18 only about 6 years after you divorced...which means that your child support obligation only lasted for 6 years. If you are still paying on arrears 5 year after that, you must have been paying next to nothing while your children were still minors.

 

[Zigner]

To be clear: No.

 

[stealth2]

I'm with Zig.

 

[Eekamouse]

Washington state

My divorce was final in 2007 and I am wondering if it can be re-opened? I was married for 20 years and left the marriage with no assets. After speaking with friends who have gone through the same thing, they are telling me that I should have received some kind of monetary settlement; half of his 401K, half the home equity, or some of the furnishings. I was ordered to pay child support and was not allowed to claim any of my 3 children on my tax returns. I will add that during the divorce proceedings I broke my wrist and underwent 4 surgeries and was heavily medicated. I know it has been many years, but I feel I really got taken to the cleaners! My children are now 28, 25 and 23 and I am still paying back support. Just recently my driver's license was suspended and I was put in jail over this! I am not able to work due to medical issues, but I have been denied disability.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

That ship has sailed so all your problems are no longer your ex-husband's problems.