MsE I hope its not too late to add my two cents. Short sale is great for your situation I think, however, you have to have bank approval for it first, so make sure it's an option before planning on going that route. Also, typically any equity in the home will be used to pay off closing costs at sale, so if there is any equity in the house, that will go to those costs as well. Lets say you sell the house for $100,000 and have an $80,000 mortgage, then the bank would take their $15,000 closing costs before giving you the remaining $5,000. Is there any equity that will help to pay off the costs? I know that often closing costs can exceed equity, so I understand that sometimes money still needs to be in hand. I just don't understand how a judge would allow him the house, yet let it totally ruin you? Seems like a lot of bullshit if you ask me! So not fair! Sorry you have to deal with this sort of crap from your ex.