Finally over!! Now what?

[Txbizman]

So the judge basically forced us to agree.... I love that man. We had all the major stuff ironed out, kids me 52 her 48, money, I pay her more than she deserves every month for 10 years and she walks away from our real estate and business (shes got 8 more days to be out!) But there were some small things like who was to be the co parenting counselor, me wanting a 24 hr ROFR etc that kept us from fully agreeing. Well back over a year ago she drug me to court for calling her a fktard via text and probably some other not so nice things, going into the house when she wasn't there (no proof) etc. Judge slapped us both with hefty fines.... Like 10k total and didn't give her attorney fees. Our lawyers basically agreed not to draft the orders and talk the judge out of it later. Small town, my lawyer plays golf with judge, judge was texting my lawyer to see how we were doing in mediation... You get the picture.

So we are at final.... 99% agreed upon but I really wanted ROFR felt it was best for the kids. And I wanted the counselor the kids already had a relationship with. Judge asks.... So what about these fines.... Have they been paid? No your honor. Oh back up. I filed contempt
Last October because she was having man of the month spending time with the kids.... Something she was orders by this judge not too. So the fines had to be drafted and entered to do that. I honestly forgot about them.

Judge says "bailiff these two are not free to go, I'm drafting a bench warrant for their arrest" my lawyer leans over and says "don't freak, I know where this is going, he's gonna force y'all to agree or go to jail" so we went into separate chambers on either side of the bench and basically I got the counselor but she wouldn't budge on the 24hr ROFR. I let it go, my lawyer reminded me I have them 52% of over nights and that the ROFR could be used against me as well. So we got it done. She tried one last time to kick me in the teeth. After the judge said we were divorced and free to go, he held up the bench warrant and said that they could be entered at any time. To me that was like saying "please don't come back here for some petty BS any time soon". Her lawyer stands up and says "your honor we are prepared to pay our fines right now if you would like us too" My portion was way higher than hers and she knew I couldn't pay it right then and there and I'd go jail. He responded and said "no, I'm not entering them at this time. Your dismissed".

Theres a whole lot more to the story, I could write a freakin book about this hotly contested divorce. But for those of you that made it this far here is my question.

In mediation I agreed to max child support to get her to agree to 50/50 which ended up 52 me 48 her. She's getting an additional 4k a month in a buy out of our assets for 10 years. How do I document extra time with the kids for the next 1.5 years or so then go in and ask for a modification? Should I ask for support from her and hope for a wash?

I'll probably post this question separately because most will close this thread as soon as they see how long it is.... Thanks for all the support guys!

[defaultuser]

I made it through the thread, and I'm happy you got what you did.

When I was in a situation where I found it necessary to document that the kids were with me, I made a fun game. It was called, take your picture every night before bed in front of the growth chart so we can see how much you grew over the year. Make funny faces.

The mug shots of my kids with the time stamp on the camera was useful at the time to leverage her. The kids had a fun time with it, and seeing how they grew was actually kinda fun too.

[blueTexas]

I like that photo in front of the growth chart idea. Not only is it good for your legal situation but will be a good record to revisit when the kids are grown.

[lohe]

Congrats! My roomate was just as amused by me at the judge telling you two to get it worked out or else!

[Bubba Seal]

In mediation I agreed to max child support to get her to agree to 50/50 which ended up 52 me 48 her. She's getting an additional 4k a month in a buy out of our assets for 10 years. How do I document extra time with the kids for the next 1.5 years or so then go in and ask for a modification? Should I ask for support from her and hope for a wash?

First off congrats on getting it done, you moved thru it pretty quickly it seems to me.

As far as documenting your time, I like the idea of the pictures with the growth chart, if they are younger then it will just be a game that they will probably look forward too every night and remind you of if you forget, thats a big plus.

I think you are asking since you are buying assets over time should that change the support structure, I dont think it will work that way, or at least that was the way it was explained to me, in figureing my CS they take her W-2s and my W-2s and figure from there, so the buyout Im doing has nothing to do with her income for CS calculations. If I were you I would ask my attorney this question, but I dont think the payout will help in CS calculations.

Once again Congratulations

[Txbizman]

In mediation I agreed to max child support to get her to agree to 50/50 which ended up 52 me 48 her. She's getting an additional 4k a month in a buy out of our assets for 10 years. How do I document extra time with the kids for the next 1.5 years or so then go in and ask for a modification? Should I ask for support from her and hope for a wash?

First off congrats on getting it done, you moved thru it pretty quickly it seems to me.

As far as documenting your time, I like the idea of the pictures with the growth chart, if they are younger then it will just be a game that they will probably look forward too every night and remind you of if you forget, thats a big plus.

I think you are asking since you are buying assets over time should that change the support structure, I dont think it will work that way, or at least that was the way it was explained to me, in figureing my CS they take her W-2s and my W-2s and figure from there, so the buyout Im doing has nothing to do with her income for CS calculations. If I were you I would ask my attorney this question, but I dont think the payout will help in CS calculations.

Once again Congratulations

I guess 1.5 years isnt too bad but i expected to do it in less (WRONG!) Whats funny is the longer she drug it out the less and less i offered her.... shes stupid to the point of shooting herself in the foot rather than give in... oh well.

Actually im not asking if her buy out funds will affect CS. Im curious to know if i go in for a mod will they look at over nights and decide if i need to pay her at all and go with no CS either way or what?