Anybody go through a divorce in Texas recently. I have mediation coming up but we may be too far apart and it may end up with attorneys (I already have one). Here are the issues:

  • She has made substantially more than me the last couple of years ($375K vs $225K).

  • She signed an apartment lease in a different school district and moved out already.

  • I asked for sole custody of our 15 year old boy and she didn’t object. She can have him visit whenever they both agree.

  • She has a sense of entitlement about money that is pathological (hoarder, shopaholic, etc).

  • I’m 55, she is 44.

  • Married almost 17 years, together almost 21.

She wants to keep her 401Ks, IRAs, cash, etc., separate, not pay child support, spousal support or really anything but split the equity in our house 50/50 but will “help” me if/when I need it. I’m not foolish enough to agree to this and under normal circumstances I would just let the lawyers hash it out.

But she has gotten me hired at the company where she works (she’s at corporate, I’m in the field). I can actually make as much or more than her after about a year or two (commission only).

But I want child support according to the state formula. I’m willing to forgo spousal support in exchange for professional support. I want at least half of everything else if not more since my timeline to retirement is shorter and she squandered all the money we earned over the years.

Have any of my beloved Redditors gone through a TX divorce where you got more from your wife? Anybody have any insight on what I can expect or suggestions based on your experience? My focus is on the long-term potential of my career and my son and not gouging her but we were broke when we met and she burned through mountains of cash. I’d like to claw some back.