It did not belong to the shared estate at all. That investment fund had been maintained as a separate personal asset throughout our entire marriage.
Finally, there was the most important asset of all, which was Tommy’s educational trust fund. The fund held approximately one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. That money did not belong to Mark, nor did it belong to me. It belonged entirely to our son, meaning it could not be split or treated as household savings during a divorce.
Lisa began explaining the immediate financial reality to Mark in hushed tones.
“You will have to refinance the mortgage immediately to pay her separate equity claim,” Lisa warned him quietly. “You will also face significant tax obligations, high insurance costs, and strict limitations on the trust fund.”
Mark’s face grew darker with every word she spoke. He had believed he was walking away with everything we owned. Instead, he was discovering that keeping everything was a burden he could not possibly sustain.
