Interesting article. Did he inherit the money (his mother's cash and possessions that were given to him in a will or through intestate probate ruling) or was this insurance beneficiary money (a payout from an insurance policy - no will needed)?

The article says that inheritance may be considered, not it's a guarantee. It only makes sense to fight for inherited money if you KNOW you won't receive any inherited money of your own in the future or inheritances are likely extrely disproportionate.

Equitable doesn't mean equal. You won't get half his inheritance without giving up half of your future inheritance from your family memI bers. Equitable means you both give up your rights of inheritance in divorce. Equal means you both split everything 50 50.

Beneficiary money (an insurance payout) is different. My ex husband's father created a trust before he died. The trust was the beneficiary of an insurance policy. The only benficiaries of the trust are grandchildren. Ex husband's mother inherited his estate (cash, stuff etc). The trust is managed by a third party to keep his own children from getting money he intended for his grandchildren.

You really do need your own lawyer who specializes in family law. It's great that you are finally going to get the exact legal advice you need for your specific situation. I know things are difficult right now. But the bigger picture has your past and future in it. A lawyer can help you protect your bigger picture and not just the stuff right now.

You will get through all this in time. You aren't stupid, you were overly trusting and poorly informed in the past. Now you know this and are taking steps to fix it. That's not stupid, it's personal growth.