Divorce settlement calls for home to be sawed in half

I've seen and heard quite a few bizarre things in the world of divorce, and have certainly come up with some creative settlement ideas, but I recently read about one that takes the cake. Or should I say the kitchen sink?

A couple who live in Cambodia were married for 18 years. Their marriage ended and they entered into a divorce settlement whereby they would split the house and the contents. I know what you're thinking "sure, after 18 years that makes sense and seems fair." The crazy thing is that they literally split the house; by sawing it in two!!

What's even more strange is that the village chief, local officials, and the police were present when the "split" took place. No one objected, although they did try to reconcile the couple.

Apparently the husband showed up at the marital home with relatives, and proceeded to cut the house in half. After the house was torn apart, the husband carried the debris away. The wife now owns the half of the house that is still standing, and plans to live in it.

Who knows whether this newsworthy settlement arrangement is what both parties wanted, or if the men in that country are allowed to make most of the decisions. I don't pretend to know about divorce law in Cambodia, but surely this couple could have come up with a better way of dividing the marital assets?


By: Melissa R. Gillis, Esq.