Divorce proceedings, woman just found out her husband has a 'secret fund' worth hundreds of billions

GĐXH - A housewife for 20 years of marriage, she knew nothing about her husband's business and finances outside of marriage until the divorce.

The woman, Yu Hong (not her real name), lives in Shanghai, China, and is a full-time housewife. Her husband, Mr. Qin, works in the business outside the home. After 20 years of marriage, Yu decided to divorce because she was unhappy, but Mr. Qin refused to leave. The court rejected the initial divorce petition.

However, the court investigated the couple's finances and assets under divorce proceedings. This led Mr. Qin to reveal a "black fund" of up to 14 million USD (about more than 300 billion VND).

Divorce only to discover husband has huge secret fund. Illustration photo

This information made Yu even more determined to divorce Qin. She filed for divorce again 6 months later and was approved.

However, the court discovered that Qin had given 18 commercial properties he owned to his stepdaughter to avoid having to divide them with Yu.

In court, Qin argued that Yu had nothing to do with the fortune he built.

"I built my own fortune. She was just an unemployed housewife," Qin said.

In addition, the man also said that the property he planned to give to his child with Yu would be more valuable than the real estate he gave to his stepdaughter.

However, the court held that Yu had the right to own a portion of the couple's joint property, regardless of her being a housewife during the marriage.

The court ruled that Qin's gift of 18 commercial properties to his stepdaughter was invalid and ordered the girl to return all the properties she received from her father.

'Financial infidelity' in marriage

One of the biggest causes of stress in marriage is arguing about money.

According to a 2022 survey by US News and World Report, nearly one-third of respondents said they have lied to or been lied to by their spouse about money.

“Financial infidelity” includes a variety of behaviors such as hiding purchases, concealing debts or accounts, providing false information about income, secretly spending savings, and lending money without your partner's consent.

It can also include failing to disclose inheritances or monetary gifts, hiding a gambling addiction.

One of the most important causes of stress in marriage is arguing about money. Illustration photo

According to marriage therapist Tami Zak of Grow Therapy (USA), financial infidelity can involve going against agreements related to the family's financial goals.

Journalist Stacey Freeman, founder of New York-based company Write On Track, says people who have a "financial affair" can experience a range of emotions, including anxiety, fear, sadness, shame, regret, guilt and depression.

They may experience these symptoms long before they are exposed to what they have done. Over time, hiding financial secrets can also lead to physical symptoms, such as disrupted sleep, higher cortisol levels due to increased stress, increased blood pressure, and physical pain.

To cope with the emotional and physical effects, people with financial affairs may turn to or rely more heavily on alcohol or drugs to numb the pain, exacerbating the feelings they are experiencing.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 20 percent of women choose to end a marriage after 10 years. One common reason is that over time, husbands and wives become less open about money.

According to experts, the number of "money talk days" may decrease as families prioritize more important goals such as moving to a new home, changing jobs, etc. However, it is important to continue talking about it, keeping in mind the following issues:

Review your family budget

Couples should take time to review their overall financial picture at least once a year.

It's good to check your credit card, savings, investment and retirement account statements at the end of the year to see where you stand.

Maximize resources

Both of you need to make the most of your combined income. Whether you choose to merge your personal accounts or not, you'll need to figure out how to build up your joint savings while covering necessary expenses that contribute to your future plans.

“Outline what the shared expenses are, and how much each partner will contribute to those expenses,” says Megan Ford, a financial expert based in Athens, Georgia.

“Dividing 50/50 isn't always easy when incomes are uneven, or one of you is currently unemployed. That's why it's important to put cash into an emergency fund while you're working.”

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/lam-thu-tuc-ly-hon-nguoi-phu-nu-moi-biet-chong-co-quy-den-hang-tram-ty-172241112155224772.htm