~Bobby

- Mississippi

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My timeline

1996 
​May - I had completed my bachelor’s degree and my former spouse had completed her master’s degree. October - We began paying on our student loans. Both of us were employed as public teachers. Money was tight, but we made it work. 

1998 
I had to take a new teaching position in a neighboring state that resulted in a significant salary decrease and commute increase. 

2001 
My former spouse had been contacted about a spousal consolidation loan. She applied (without my knowledge or my signature - but what is done is done) and our loans were consolidated in August 2001 with SallieMae. Total amount consolidated: $49,415. 

2007 
April - My former spouse asked for a divorce. Unbeknownst to me as to why (a myriad of reasons), one of the big reasons was her lack of fiscal control. In order to try to salvage that portion, we filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I took care of the repayment to the government and the loans were put in a deferment due to the bankruptcy. (We “worked it out” and stayed married.) 

2013 
Loans repurchased by Navient during the SallieMae implosion. 
Sometime after the bankruptcy was paid and cleared, the former spouse went back to the world of unsecured debt, racking up a huge debt. Always trying to be the good guy, I took complete control of those accounts and began paying them off. Former wife was still in charge of student loans and mortgage. Color me stupid. From 2013-2018, only payments that were made were extra payments I had made, because my former spouse had loans in forbearance without my consent. 

2019 
Divorce is finalized. Stipulations for percentages to be paid were agreed to in the divorce decree. I begin paying my portion of the monthly payment.
 
2021 
Ex wife files for bankruptcy for a second time. Of course, loans are in bankruptcy forbearance without my consent. No way to consolidate for PSLF. 

2022 
Current balance on the $49,415 loan is $111,456. 

I’m in my 26th year as a public school teacher with no end in sight. My current best case option is to die before she does.
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