FS
I’m sorry you have been hurt so badly by him. You and your kids did not deserve this.
I remember the first lawyer you talked to mentioned bankruptcy. Did the second lawyer confirm it?
Hopefully you have good family and friends that can support you emotionally and if necessary, financially during this difficult time.
I have had a couple of relatives go thru bankruptcy. And while it is distressing during the process and perhaps a bit embarrassing, when they come out the other side they have had a clean slate in which to start building credit ratings and moving on with their lives. Ive heard some say they would have done it earlier if they had known what was behind the mystery of bankruptcy. I know at least one went on to buy a house and pay off any debts the courts left her and is now doing well.
So if you really have to do it, especially if it’s a way to get out from your M to a betrayer, it may be worth it.
Please don’t believe anything your WH says. He’s a proficient liar. Saying he’s confused means he just doesn’t want to look like the bad guy.
Honestly, continuing to take a strong stand and moving on with the D process is the best thing you can do for you and your kids. You can’t beg him and nice him back into your M. That never works. He will be looking for his next way to go behind your back the next chance he gets.
No, if he is ever going to return and you are ever going to feel safe with him again is if you let him go and ON HIS OWN he gets himself into therapy for a year or two and works on why he decided to blow up his marriage instead of working on it.
So don’t wait around for him to do that. You have no control over it so even don’t think about it. Start rebuilding your own life.
And if down the road he comes to you a changed man with proof he has down the work then you can consider if you want to try again starting from scratch.
My hope is by then you’ve found the next great love of your life and you leave your WH back behind in the dust.
Good luck to you.