Police Find Texas Man Camping in Front Lawn Waiting for His Divorce
Residents of a waterfront community in Lakeview, Texas are getting frustrated the spectacle sitting in the front lawn of one local home. For several months, 69-year-old Sharafat Khan has been posting up in his own yard after a nasty spat with his wife. Apparently this isn’t the first problem in their relationship, but it’s certainly the last straw. Local police have been sent to the Khans’ residence more than thirty times over the course of six months, and still the elderly man’s campaign of camping has no clear end in sight.
Shaky Marriage, Shaky Split
Sharafat Khan is no stranger to the realm of domestic troubles. According to his son, this bizarre squatting situation is the culmination of years filled with abuse. There’s even some paperwork regarding past run-ins with the law: one arrest in 2008 attached to charges of domestic violence, as well as a protective order from 2014 and countless restraining orders. As of yet, none of these have been made official.
Khan’s wife is seems to be keeping her mouth shut, for the most part. She has requested that neighbors quit feeding her husband — there’s actually a sign posted in the yard that makes this clear. Of course, it’s hard to watch an old man starve when you live down the street from him, so the complaints against donated food have been largely ignored.
The reason Sharafat Khan can’t be relocated has to do with the uncomfortable question of property ownership. The house’s deed falls under both his and his wife’s names, which means that there’s no way to make either of them leave the premises until either a restraining or prejudgment order has been established, or until property division has been allocated.
So, until something changes, Khan will remain in his yard. He has enough money to check into a hotel, but it’s a matter of justice for him. He wants his wife to realize that she’s doing the wrong thing. “People will know, the neighbors and everything else. People will ask her, put her down. Let her know what you’re doing to your husband.”
Property Division in Tennessee
Divorce is a complicated process, and one of the stickiest parts of any contested divorce procedure is splitting up all the stuff. Assets, debts, property, all of it has to go where it should go. But it’s not usually such a simple task to accomplish.
Many divorces in which there’s high-asset properties involved turn into a tug o’ war between spouses. The goal is to have as much stuff as you can by the time you’re no longer married. The more assets you retain, the less debts you have to pay off, the more secure and comfortable you’ll be coming out of married life. Contested divorces are a last resort for many reasons, but one very important one is the fact that it’s much easier to allocate assets and liabilities via discussion instead of trial.
Before resigning to a courtroom divorce, it’s always a good idea to do everything possible in order to assure that an uncontested divorce process isn’t possible. Mediation, counseling, whatever might make things smoother should be attempted. Both spouses are always better off when they’re dividing their stuff instead of fighting over it. Not only is it a fairer process, but it also helps for having an amicable relationship post-divorce.
Hire Nashville Divorce Attorneys
At Turner Law Offices, P.C., our team of attorneys has years of experience working with clients across a wide range of divorce cases. Whether you’re settling your affairs in the mediation room or in front of a jury, we know the most efficient routes toward securing a satisfactory resolution in any situation. Call today, or go online to set up your Free Initial Consultation, and meet with a skilled lawyer who’s ready and waiting to get you on track toward the justice you deserve.
