I have a friend in Madison, Indiana who owns a little shop. She was married for 7 years and the last year of her marriage her husband returned to alcoholic drinking. She was a bit frightened of him as his alcoholism progressed and moved her business out of the business building they owned, rented another property because of it. He did put down some inheritance on 12 acres and a home they owned. Yet she took care of things for 7 years, including him, who had serious legal problems and was unable to drive due to a DUI, was laid off for 1 1/2 years, etc.

Her attorney has charged her a fortune, her husband gets the house, the acreage plus 1/2 of any equity of the building her business was in if they can sell it. Her? She's sleeping on a cot in the closet under the stairs of the building she's renting for her business.

Her attorney told her she is "lucky" she got anything. Huh?! Do what?!!!! I live across the river in Kentucky and I've never seen anything like this. The court in Indiana is basically saying she was worthless to the marriage and is not taking her fear of him, her caretaking and his alcoholism into account at all, but acting as if she just abandoned everything. It's not like she wanted to! She had no choice. She's not a fighter type and wants to be fair, but does anyone but me see this as fair to her? How does he get all the acreage, all the house and 1/2 of the business building? She would be happy to just get the little business building that she moved out of (from fear). I told her I think:
1. She has a terrible attorney.
2. The judge is biased.
3. Something about this whole thing smells like a rat.

She can't afford another attorney and can't even pay the one she has right now. What does someone like her do? I feel so bad for her.