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Chris
well, I'm going through a now three year divorce and having a hard time financing the rest of the divorce. We've used up quite a bit of assets during that time.
Chris's Advisor 1
So you and your ex wife.
Chris
Yes. Yeah.
Chris's Advisor 2
Why is it dragged out for three years?
Chris
Soon to be. She had a. She had a stakehold in her company that she works for. They have private shares. It's a private company. And so we had to do like long discovery process because they were unwilling to give the information. So I had to hire a forensic accountant. The accountant had to do a lot of digging and you know, it just cost me probably 200,000 now over those three years.
Chris's Advisor 2
Did you have that money?
Chris
I did. Now I'm out. So I've been signing up for credit cards to pay for the attorneys and the accountant.
Chris's Advisor 2
How much credit card debt are you in?
Chris
About 30,000 now and counting. Because we're still not, we're still litigating.
Chris's Advisor 2
I mean, where's the end in sight here?
Chris
We were supposed to be done in February, but the stock price changes every March.
Chris's Advisor 2
So let's play this out. What if this is another two years and now you're $200,000 in debt? Was it worth this?
Chris
Yeah, because every year, and this is what I tried to talk to my ex wife about was every year the stock price goes up and we own about 300,000 shares in the company, which if it fluctuates a dollar, that's close to another half million share a year. Just if it's a dollar a share increase. So we're looking at 1.7 million difference from 2025 to 2026 in the value.
Chris's Advisor 2
But at this point we're gambling because if you lose this thing and you're 200 grand in debt now, you're screwed.
Chris
Yeah, I'm kind of getting richer and poorer at the same time. So it's a weird prediction.
Chris's Advisor 2
Can you move this to mediation?
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Chris's Advisor 2
Can you move this to mediation?
Chris
We mediated three times now.
Chris's Advisor 1
And so I'm confused what the holdup is. What, why is this not. What else do you have to have for it to be final
Chris
for her to I guess, give up and face reality? You know, we've tried to mediate and we're so far off on the numbers that basically needs to go to trial. And the trial date just keeps on getting pushed off the docket and moved forward because of non cooperation on their side. We wanted to get it done, sent in offers, no counter offers were put in. So it's just drawn out. I think she's just drawing that out so that she bleeds me basically is
Chris's Advisor 2
what it's worked, I guess now you're going to crippling debt. At some point you're going to have to give up and wave the white flag while making lawyers really rich. You have funded some really a nice lifestyle for some lawyers.
Chris
Oh, for sure. I'm sure they're building pools in their backyard.
Chris's Advisor 2
I mean, at some point we just need to make this a peace treaty and cut our losses. Or take what you can get, come to a compromise.
Chris
I don't know how to do that.
Chris's Advisor 2
Is it all or nothing for you? Like what is, let's say, what's a decent scenario that you get some of these shares?
Chris
Well, the company has a clause that clearly states how the shares get split in divorce and they write a check for whatever the court determined. So it's actually the company is very simple. It's a simple process.
Chris's Advisor 1
So then what's from the legal perspective? Why is it drug out if it's that simple of what you're saying? I don't understand why all the lawyers don't see that.
Chris
Yeah, it was discovery. Discovery was the longest part of the process and the forensic accounting part. And then so. But it costs money, you know, that cost money. I knew that it was going to be a she. We hit, we had separate assets and I hear it all the time with you guys.
Chris's Advisor 2
Oh, we lost you. Chris.
Chris's Advisor 1
Chris.
Chris
Yes.
Chris's Advisor 2
Okay.
Chris
Yeah.
Chris's Advisor 1
Okay. Well, you said discovery was the longest. Is it over? Because you said you guys kind of found everything. But then the stocks changed over in March, so now we're in April. So what's your. What's your. What's your final? Because you don't want to live five more years like this, Chris.
Chris
No, we're looking at possibly. So my lawyer has told me that we have a meeting in May and then we determine what the next trial date is. And that's supposedly going to be September
Chris's Advisor 2
and they're gonna keep Working on this thing that whole time?
Chris
Yes.
Chris's Advisor 2
So this could go a whole nother year before there's some resolution, which means you're another 100 grand in debt. Easily.
Chris
Yes, but I don't know how to get out of that. I mean, you're stuck in the process.
Chris's Advisor 2
What's your net worth today?
Chris's Advisor 1
How much do you have, Chris? I mean, house, your assets. Where are you at financially?
Chris
I still have two properties in the Carolinas that I own outright. One burned down. My wife filed for divorce in February of 23, and then the house burned down a week later up in the Carolina.
Chris's Advisor 1
Okay, how much are those worth?
Chris
I believe 50,000. And then the other property is about 15, 16,000.
Chris's Advisor 2
What's your total net worth?
Chris's Advisor 1
Wait, a property? Is it just land?
Chris
I had a house. I had a house and I burned down. It got set on fire.
Chris's Advisor 2
So the land is only worth 15 grand.
Chris
50 grand for that land. And then the land across the street is about 16,000.
Chris's Advisor 2
Okay, what's your income?
Chris
There was two properties. I have my own company. And it fluctuates. Like, last month I made like 30,000. This month I'll probably make like 5,000. So overall, what do you do about 100,000. I work on medical equipment.
Chris's Advisor 2
Okay, man. I personally, I know this is like your sunk cost fallacy. I would cut my losses and go, you can rebuild a great life and build wealth from scratch. You're a smart guy. You'll get there. I also know that you could burn another 150 grand on the off chance you can make half million a year. I just don't think the risk is worth it. And the stress, it's going to take years off your life to keep this battle up emotionally and mentally on top of financially of what it is.
Chris's Advisor 1
Yeah. And I would. I would sell those properties. I wouldn't be a long while. I was gonna say landlord. I don't think there's any occupancy in this situation. So I'd go ahead and just get
Chris's Advisor 2
rid of those properties, sell that, fund it. If you're gonna keep fighting this.
Chris's Advisor 1
Yeah, yeah. And that's 66 grand that you'll have to help at least pay off some of this credit card debt. And I think, Chris, you have to make a decision to say, okay, you know, whatever that breaking point is for you, we're never gonna tell you to continue to go into debt. So yourself, if you're choosing to kind of play that game, you at least, please, you at least need a point in your mind to say, if we get to X point on the calendar and nothing has moved or there's no set. There's nothing. Like, even if a trial date, you know, keeps moving out, like, you can't just live in the cycle forever and ever. Like George said, this is the same
Chris's Advisor 2
part of your brain, like a gambling addict, where they just go, well, I just got to double down. This time's going to be different. I'm going to get it this time.
Chris's Advisor 1
Yes.
Chris's Advisor 2
I just don't think it's worth it when you're a smart guy making great money.
Chris's Advisor 1
Well, and I'm very. And it's a little confusing if, if it's so clear in the bylaws of the company of what happens to the shares in the case of a divorce, how that's not.
Chris's Advisor 2
It would have happened by now.
Chris's Advisor 1
Yeah. Maybe I'm being naive. Right. And again, I know every divorce is very different, every state is different, whatever. But how. It's just not spelled out like that. And then that's part of all the assets that are, you know, divvied up and everything. So my fear is that you've been in a three year roller coaster.
Chris's Advisor 2
That's not a battle for custody of your children. It's just about, I could have had a gigantic pile of money and I won't have that. Yeah, that sucks. I would grieve that. Move on.
Chris's Advisor 1
Absolutely. Oh, sorry, Chris. Hope that's helpful. It's probably not the advice you wanted, but sometimes it is just to. To cut the ties, just to get everything settled and be done and move on.
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Title: My Divorce Is Costing Me a Fortune ($200k and Counting)
Podcast: The Ramsey Show Highlights
Air Date: May 4, 2026
Main Theme:
A caller named Chris discusses his long, expensive divorce, which has dragged on for more than three years, consumed over $200,000, and left him in increasing debt. The Ramsey advisors (unidentified in the transcript but likely regulars such as George Kamel and Jade Warshaw) guide Chris through the financial and emotional fallout while challenging his ongoing commitment to litigation.
Chris’s story is a cautionary tale about the financial and emotional dangers of prolonged legal battles, especially when tied to unpredictable asset values and a combative ex. Despite the company’s clear process for splitting shares, discovery and legal posturing have made the process a costly, draining ordeal.
The Ramsey advisors push Chris to:
The tone is empathetic but direct, urging listeners to guard against emotional and financial traps in high-stakes legal disputes and to prioritize financial peace and personal well-being over potential (but uncertain) gains.