Chapter 17 - Divorce
I filed.
Not because Constance demanded.
Not because one lawyer told me.
Because Reid’s deception was not one moment.
It was a system.
Property division:
Ordinary.
Our house bought during marriage.
Equity divided.
I refinanced and kept it because Perry was established there, with Reid receiving his share.
Retirement accounts divided according to marital portion.
No company confiscation.
Reid’s partnership interest evaluated under applicable rules; personal earning capacity remained his, marital appreciation handled in settlement.
No punitive financial destruction.
Custody:
Temporary order first.
I had primary physical custody.
Joint legal authority continued except I had tie-breaking authority for therapy and school for eighteen months because Reid had previously made unilateral school/care decisions.
Reid:
Supervised visits initially.
Then step-up.
Constance:
No unsupervised contact.
No use of her house as Perry’s primary residence.
No forced “quiet rooms.”
No custody role.
Reid objected to supervision duration.
Fair.
He had not physically assaulted Perry.
Evaluator considered.
After three months of consistent visits and parenting therapy:
Supervised transitioned to unsupervised day visits.
Then overnights later.
No permanent exile.
May you like
A father can make serious mistakes and still rebuild safe parenting.
Marriage and parenthood are different contracts.
