I have not posted to you before...heck I don't really post much anymore...but thought that this might help.....
I ended up buying my WAW out of our house. Her 2 options were to take what I was offering(more on that later) or sell the house and get half of whatever we got. WAW ended up taking the money....
How much did I buy her out for? Well I took the appraisal that she got on the house, minus typical closing costs, minus typical Realtor fees and divided that in 1/2. She took this as me nickel and dimming her but I really did not care. Those were her options.
I don't know if you have the ability to take that kind of stand...but it might lower the money you would give him even further.
As for claiming you kids on your taxes.... The mediator might have something to say about that. I only have my DD's 45% of the time and get to claim them both, except every third year I only get to claim one of them. But don't be disheartened if that happens to you, you will always be able to claim head of household which should give you a tax break.
