Mediation is set for next month. STBXW filed for divorce 8 months ago and made a false police report to have me removed from the home. The Judge ordered me to be removed from the marital home within 14 days right before Christmas. Through a temporary hearing, my attorney recommended a custody evaluator which ended up recommending a 50/50 custody. Our home has 200k equity, and her thrift savings plan (civil service) and retirement are about 300k. My retirement is under 50K due to me not putting away because my wife said she was always broke in which she makes over 100k and I'm at 65K.

Before the divorce, she tells me to come to the table with a write-up and ask what I want out of the divorce. I didn't come to the table with anything as I wanted to hear her demands. Well, her demands were all one-sided of course. For me to get out of the house, I get placed on child support with 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends. I get to take my office furniture and clothes, no children's items, not even toys that I bought. I get some of the old ripped furniture. Also for me to give up all rights to the house, I don't get to touch her retirement/TSP and each person's bank account/vehicle is their own.

Now since I basically had to get an apartment less than 4 miles from where I used to live, I've had to start over from scratch. During mediation can I just stick my heels in the dirt and demand 50/50 of all assets, along with 50/50 custody? There's also a plan in Texas where the household income has to equal out so she has to be responsible for that as well.