Even in the most straightforward Texas divorces, property division can often prove challenging. It can be a struggle to divide property equitably among couples, especially since what they might be dividing may be of a different personal value to each spouse. Furthermore, often during or after a divorce, couples sometimes uncover elements of their settlement that were previously undisclosed. This is how a woman’s shoe collection became a hot topic during her divorce hearing.
While the couple was married, the wife collected over a thousand designer shoes, which the ex-husband estimates at a value of $1 million. However, her ex-husband is now claiming that she neglected to mention the shoes and hid them from the ex-husband, so they would not be included in the property division process.The woman denies the ex-husband’s allegations about the extent of her shoe collection, citing that she wouldn’t have been able to afford all of the shoes without his financial assistance. Furthermore, she denies that she attempted to hide the shoes from her husband, calling such claims ludicrous. As can be expected, she is contesting her ex-husband’s request for 35 percent of the shoe collection’s value.
While this is an extreme case, this only serves to highlight that it is important to disclose items explicitly during divorce proceedings. Doing so can potentially speed up divorce proceedings, as property division can often times take the longest to decide. Unfortunately, by disclosing the extent of this property, many times Texas couples can be surprised or upset at what is uncovered during discovery. However, by working through this and communicating openly, they may be able to settle any disagreements amicably and avoid further disputes down the road.
Source: The Star-Ledger, “A shoe-in for a lawsuit: Wife’s 1,200 pair designer heel collection focus of divorce suit,” June 25, 2012