The attorney helped me organize the documents into separate categories: property ownership, existing debts, joint account transfers, the disputed application, and personal communications.

He explained that a divorce proceeding could address division of marital property and certain financial claims, while a separate investigation might determine whether anyone had committed fraud.

The law would not transform every betrayal into a criminal act, and I did not want it to.

“I want the house safe,” I said.

“I want the accounts honestly disclosed.

And I want to be able to sleep.”

“Those are reasonable goals,” he replied.