Respectfully request advice as newly divorced dad

The wife left, took my daughter, hid/dumped thousands of debt.

After getting upset initially, my highest priority is getting my daughter back into my life.

Right now they are both 1053 miles away at her parents.

I asked the wife to move back to the city (San Antonio) and she said she would eventually-she even promised to pay back debt.

With the deception of hiding debt, I don’t trust her, but have been completely kind/amicable in order to facilitate any kind of compromise.

We haven’t mentioned a lawyer, just bills, child’s schooling, visitation (to include that she offered to buy me plane tickets)

So my thought process is to supplement her income some, but have her sign over debt that she has accrued.

From what I understand, men have given ex wives credit cards to which the court did NOT recognize as child support, and am thinking that a direct payment of her vehicle, her student loan, etc. will not count as support if it comes to that.

So I guess I need to document money given to her, play nice, and work towards a plan of them moving back (if that is really a thing)

I am at a loss as to what things I should do so I am asking for help. Please and thank you!


Don't forgive her debt... Make her be responsible for it...

My ex charged up some credit cards without my knowledge when we were married... I didn't find out until the bills came in the mail... The first time she did it, I paid them off and told her that if she did it again, I would not pay... She did it again and I kept my promise not to pay it... That eventually came out of her settlement in the divorce.... Document the debt that she's responsible for and let the attorneys figure it out...

Get a good lawyer...

Don't bring the kids into the divorce... Do not say anything negative about the wife to them, keep it to yourself... Trash talking the wife in front of the kids will just make them hate you, not the mother... The kids will respect you more when it's all over if you keep them out of the middle...

Don't give the wife any settlement money directly, or it won't 'count'... After the court sets up the payment plan with the state, then pay all the money to the state and let them pay the ex... That way you get credit for your payments...

Talk to the kids to let them know that they are not the cause of the divorce, it's because you and the wife cannot get along any more... You don't want them thinking they are responsible for the divorce... Like I stated earlier, don't trash talk the wife to the kids...