Follow up....the judge ordered this NOT based on me personally, but, by the letter of the law. According to my L, the higher income earner, is responsible to help pay the other S's bill to contribute to a speedy process and prevent the D from stalling. The long delay in doing the financial appraisal on my practice, STBXW's motions, etc....ran up both our bills (her L would refuse to adjourn even when the appraisal was incomplete).

If my STBXW's intent is too punish (tho' legally she is entitled to request this money), she has succeeded. $17,000 is a 'lot of bread man'...and I don't have it. To pay it, I would have to skip the mortgage payment (which, of course, I am ordered to pay and would also be in contempt for not paying), my disability, my business rent, and part of my malpractice premium. You all know that I cannot practice surgery if I don't pay the premium.

I have no intention of going to jail. My kids need me and I need to work. My L tells me that if you go to jail on contempt for not paying a judgement, you stay in jail until it is satisfied. I have NO rich uncles or aunts...NO rich friends..my mother is over 85...and both my sisters have their own issues to take care of. It is TOO risky to not pay it, so, I need to explore my options QUICKLY and the main one is bankruptcy.

According to my L...this would bring the D to a complete halt. The B would have to be ajudicated before the D could proceed. The B would 'stay' all judgements, however, I believe they can file some sort of request to lift it. Not sure. Never been in this place before. When I married STBXW, I paid for the down payment on our house with my savings. I had stellar credit. Never owed anybody anything. Sucks. What can I say?

The only option.....perhaps...is to get settlement but my L said to 'give her the house'. On paper, if she bought me out, I would be due about 90-100K. Not sure if that is worth giving away without negotiating over costs of filing for B.

Would appreciate any thoughts. I have 30 days. FIB

Me 55; XW 47; 2 kids (S13, D11)
Bomb 05/19/06 Original thread http://tinyurl.com/yg2ou2t
Last anniversary 04/25/10, Divorced 5/12/10
Status: Loving father of 2 beautiful children;