Legal paperwork is notoriously complicated. Before you can divorce, you have to fill out and file all kinds of forms and jump through various hoops. There’s a lot of detail, so much so that it’s all too easy for things to slip through the cracks. But what can you do if there’s a mistake on your divorce decree?
One of our founding partners, Rick Jones, regularly appears on the KZOK morning show, where he answers listeners’ family law questions. One caller found himself in precisely this pickle and wanted to know how to fix a mistake on his divorce decree.
Related Reading: Can Your Ex Take a House You Inherited?
Listen to the Conversation Below:
Caller: “My divorce was finalized in 2010 and in the division of assets it was actually pretty amicable. We did it with a mediator. I gave up the house and the equity. Also, a very successful business to protect my pension, which is all mine.
“However, there was not language in the decree for her to refinance at all or within a time period. I believe that was a huge mistake on my part.
“I’m wondering if there’s any recourse. That has an adverse effect on my credit. There was a…I did file a quick claim deed, but I’m still on the mortgage.”
Related Reading: Are Your Divorce Records Public
Rick Talks Divorce Decrees:
Rick: “Yeeeaaaahhhh, unfortunately, that is problematic, and it comes up a lot. One of the questions would really be–and this is where we need to dive into the specifics of your decree–whether or not there’s any language in there, even though it’s not enforceable, where it intimates that the expectation is that the home would be sold or refinanced.
“Because if not, the court’s likely to hold you to the bargain that you had.
“That’s the downside. When people hear about mediation, most cases are resolved ultimately through mediation. But that’s usually with attorney involvement to protect people from this happening.
“I don’t know that I’ve got great news for you, but you’ve got no reason not to try. So get a hold of somebody, they’ll want to take a look at your [divorce decree] and see if that gives them an opportunity.”
Related Reading: “My Ex Agreed To Pay Off Shared Debt Then Declared Bankruptcy.”