Resentful ex embraces crisis
Some women and men are slyly taking advantage of the economic crisis to stay in the marital home longer during divorce proceedings. In doing so, they are making life very difficult for their future ex-husband or ex-wife, who is virtually powerless.
That is what divorce lawyers have found. It mainly concerns couples with children who are forced to sell their house due to the divorce. In the event of a divorce, the judge often makes a provisional provision. This often stipulates that the partner who takes care of the children the most – usually the woman – may continue to live in the house until the entire procedure has been completed and the house is sold. Due to the crisis, spiteful women are able to use cunning delaying tactics to extend this period indefinitely. Divorce lawyer Elzeline van Herk of the De Boorder Schoots firm sees that in a third of all divorce cases, the sale of a house is deliberately sabotaged. “If a house has been on the market for a long time, it is certainly smart to lower the sales price, especially in these times. But both ex-partners must agree. If one of them is against it, you can force a price reduction through the judge,” says Van Herk. “But because family law judges are terribly busy, it will take a few months before you know it.”
