Q: Is it legit for my wife to be requesting my financial assistance when she makes vastly more than me (divorce pending)?
She is the plaintiff in a very drawn-out and contentious divorce, in which we have a young child. She has always made easily five times what I did, when I was working. When she left, she knowingly left me homeless and losing that job. She took all money and assets, buying since the house I expected to share with her. She has now intentionally undermined a second job, and wants to take our car from me when she already has one, further undermining my options to work. She has complained of the cost of caring for our child, but she withholds this child from me for no legally valid reasons. No court orders have been granted, and divorce is still pending. All that said, what validity does she and her family have to accuse me of not contributing, when she left me destitute after I was dependent on her while married, and has undermined two jobs in a row since, and seeks to undermine my employment even further?
A:
You need to know that Illinois is an "equitable distribution" state when it comes to divorce. The marital property shall be divided in an equitable fashion. Equitable does not mean equal, but rather what is fair.
If the parties cannot otherwise agree on a divorce settlement, the court will equitably divided the marital property. Based on your commentary, it does not sound equitable that she would be asking you for financial assistance. In my opinion, this is posturing on her part to tip the scales in her favor. Based on your commentary, it does not sound that an equitable distribution is taking place. Factors would change, based on the length of your marriage.
Bottom line, it sounds that you have an angry spouse, who wants to make your life miserable. Talk to your lawyer, to move the scales in your favor.
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