[WSBAPT] Contesting Divorce Settlement

[Amy Goertz]

Hello,

Funny I have another marriage-related question in the same week.

Potential client’s mother was in an abusive marriage since the early 80s.
In 2004, the couple moved from California to Washington and purchased a beautiful lakefront home and five acres of land.
Client lives on the east coast and doesn’t have a lot of contact due to stepfather being very controlling.

From time to time, client had to call police to do a wellness check when he was unable to reach his mother.
This past summer, he called adult protective services and let them know his mother was a vulnerable adult and was being exploited.
An investigation is still ongoing.

Stepdad recently informed Client that he had divorced his wife online. 

Client located a divorce decree issued 7/20/20 from Wahkiakum County. The decree states that the husband will pay the wife some money, half the value of his business, and half of the checking account. Client doesn’t know if these things were paid, but the amounts described are significantly less than one-half of the home, acreage, vehicles, and substantial wealth accumulated during the marriage. Client also found a Quit Claim Deed signed by the mom giving the stepdad their marital home the day after it was purchased in 2004.

Client ended up having to call the police to find out where his mom was - stepdad had placed her in a nursing home in Spokane.

Now mom has passed away and seems to have no assets in her name. The nursing home says everything was given to the stepdad because the lease was in his name.

Any thoughts on how to approach this? Is there any way to contest the division of marital assets a year after the decree was entered?

Thanks in advance for any insights you may have -


Amy


Amy J. Goertz, J.D.
Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC
amyjgoertz at icloud.com <mailto:amyjgoertz at icloud.com> 

1.888.926.2607 phone
1.877.684.1627 fax

Address for correspondence:
2829 S. Grand Blvd., Suite 303
Spokane, WA 99203 

Additional office locations:
510 Bell Street
Edmonds, WA 98020

Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC
www.goertzlambrecht.com <http://www.goertzlambrecht.com/>







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