Q: Can I legally get rid of my ex wifes stuff after three months no contact?
We separated last year, filed for divorce and agreed to exchange belongings 3 months ago. The divorce is not final and she has no responded to the many emails I sent regarding her belongings.
Said belongings have been in storage at my mom's house for 3 years and she wants them gone.
A:
Ordinarily, disposing of marital assets during the pendency of a divorce violates standing orders of the court.
Because you have already agreed to exchange belongings and she has stopped responding to your communications, I would move all of her belongings into a self-storage unit, take photographs to prove it, and pay three months in advance. I would tell her in writing exactly where the self-storage unit is and give her everything she needs to access the unit (eg times of operation, access code, key). I would tell her you have paid for the unit through x date, and will not be making any further payments beyond that date. If she still wants her belongings, she can retrieve them from the storage unit at her leisure and if she wants to leave them there longer than three months, she’ll need to make arrangements to pay the storage fee. Then see what happens
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