I hired a seasoned family and asset attorney, Arthur Sterling, and his strategy was clear and correct: secure Chloe’s permanent custody first, then dismantle the property claims, and let law enforcement handle the criminal forgery.

We audited every invoice George submitted, and nearly all the house repairs, it turned out, had been paid directly from my own personal accounts.

The rest were tied to Fiona’s salon.

But one document posed a real problem: a contract showing George had paid for a complete roof replacement before our marriage.

If he could prove he had substantially increased the home’s value with his own separate funds, he could demand significant compensation.

The contractor’s stamp looked authentic.