My question involves divorce in the State of: MA
My wife lives in the home and has convinced an appraiser that the home needs extensive repairs and is worth $365K. I also sent an appraiser and the value is noted as $450K. The judge may force a sale since we can't agree on the actual value. If she forces a sale, the judge stated that my wife may choose to buy it herself for the bid made by an outside party. Knowing my wife, she would have her parents, friend, etc.. bid $325K (a very low bid) and then use that bid as her selling price and buy it herself. Or her parents would buy it for a very low price and then 1 years later title it back to her for $1. In other words, I get 1/2 of the selling price of just $325K (or whatever low value they bid/buy). How can I protect myself?? Can't I ask the judge to stipulate the selling price must be in a certain range based on the appraised value I provided? And it must be sold within a certain frame (6-9 months - what's reasonable in this market??) Is there any wording I can ask to be included in the divorce decree to protect me from a low sale price by her getting family or friends to submit low bids?? Her family has the $$ to be able to buy it at the low price and then sell it right back to her. I go to court in 2 days to discuss this - my lawyer has been of no help whatsoever - keeps telling me to just take what I can get and walk away with a significant loss. Surely there is some way to protect myself?? HELP!!!

