Michael Meschino Says Foster Divorce Shows Why It's Important to Read Divorce Settlement Before Signing
The settlement reportedly contained language that said Mr. Foster pushed and shoved his wife and caused her physical and emotional harm.
Palatine, Illinois, January 31, 2015 (Newswire.com) - By all accounts, Illinois Congressman Bill Foster and his ex-wife, Ann, had a relatively civil negotiation when they divorced in 1996. However, language in that divorce settlement has raised questions about the marriage that could influence Foster's expected run for settlement. Divorce attorney Michael Meschino says this is why it's important to read every word of a settlement before the deal is finalized.
The settlement reportedly contained language that said Mr. Foster pushed and shoved his wife and caused her physical and emotional harm. However, Mr. Foster and his ex-wife both say that information is false. In fact, his ex-wife says their relationship was peaceful and that Mr. Foster continued to live in the home while the divorce was in progress. She claims that she told the judge there was no abuse, but somehow the language made it into the settlement.
The two sides worked with a mediator to craft the settlement. After the divorce, both parties shared custody of the children and Mr. Foster provided his ex-wife with enough support so that she could continue to live in the same neighborhood. Both are now remarried and they claim to have a very friendly and supportive relationship with each other.
Michael Meschino, a divorce lawyer in Chicago, advises his clients to read settlements carefully before signing on the bottom line. "I understand the temptation to just sign the document and get it over with, but, the truth is, you could be exposing yourself to serious harm," Mr. Meschino argued. "These settlements become public documents, so any inaccurate language in there could cause professional or personal harm in the future."
That's exactly what has happened to Mr. Foster. Both he and his ex-wife say that he has been labeled a "wife beater" in every election he has run. They say they are considering detailing all aspects of the divorce so the rumors can be put to rest.