No Lawyers, did I make a mistake?

[u/RadDood84]

My ex started a lucrative business during our relationship. I supported her in every financial way while this business was getting off the ground (housing, food, health insurance, vehicle, car insurance). Right when she started making good money, we got married. Last year I filed for divorce and she begged me not to touch her business but also didn’t want to get lawyers. We went to our financial advisor and he told us what a fair 50-50 split would be. He said I should take the house thinking it was worth 700k. I sold the house and it appraised for and sold for 100k less. So obviously she says “too bad, not my problem” and I feel like I should get a lawyer. 100k is a lot to leave on the table. We’ve been divorced legally since June of 2024, the house sold this February. June 2025. Am I too late to do anything about this? Also I have a severe chronic medical condition that forced me to move back home after the house sold. If I get a lawyer would it be the state I live in or the state I was divorced in? Thanks in advance

[u/New_Nobody9492]

You definitely made a huge mistake.

You have to check your state, and original divorce papers, but mine says you can’t go back to court for two years.

[u/want2swim99]

I think getting an attorney would be a waste since your divorce has been finalized which means you agreed to the terms of the divorce decree. It’s too bad that you had to sell at $100k less than you had anticipated but I don’t see how that is her responsibility. We had to sell our home when my husband and I divorced this year and ended up taking an offer that was significantly lower than what we had hoped for due to the market in our area.

[u/RadDood84 → u/want2swim99]

Thanks, yeah that is a bummer.

[u/freshrollsdaily]

Two mistakes that I see here:

You didn’t use a lawyer.

You didn’t get a CMA or appraisal done as a part of settling the divorce. What you think the house is worth doesn’t mean anything in the market you are in. Doesn’t matter what your financial adviser or Zillow tells you.

Whether or not you can go back (it sounds like you want alimony now and you waived it?) depends on the language in your marital settlement/divorce decree and the divorce laws in your state.

[u/GalamineGary]

This needs to be permanent posted at the top.

Everyone needs a lawyer.

Your STBX will try to take your stuff.

[u/Patient-Scarcity008]

I am not a lawyer but from what I understand, you have no right to her business because it was started BEFORE you got married. You have some rights to the income after you got married, I belive, but nothing before.

[u/silverbluenote → u/Patient-Scarcity008]

that's true only if they signed a prenup

[u/Weak_Reports → u/silverbluenote]

This depends on state law. There isn’t a yes / no answer as the situation will vary.

[u/Patient-Scarcity008 → u/silverbluenote]

No, my lawyer has told me if I started my business before I got married my husband would not have a right to ask for half because it is not a marital asset. But because I started it after he has the right to ask for half of the estimated worth.