Dad filed for divorce.

Not annulment.

They had been legally married for six years.

There was no magical shortcut because a crime occurred.

Property divided under ordinary law.

Accounts.

Vehicles.

Retirement contributions.

Household property.

Legal fees.

Leo’s custody was separate.

Valerie’s criminal conviction and protective orders mattered heavily.

Dad received sole legal and physical custody during incarceration.

Future petitions would require substantial review.

He did not ask the court to pretend Valerie had never been Leo’s mother.

She was.

Biology remained.

Legal parentage remained unless modified through actual legal process.

Access was restricted because safety came first.

Those are different concepts.

Dad struggled with that.

“How can she still be his mother?”

Because motherhood is not a medal awarded for good behavior.

It can describe biology and legal relationship even when contact becomes unsafe.

Leo did not need that complexity yet.

Adults did.