My ex-wife and I bought a home together. In the divorce decree, she was awarded full ownership of the house. Only my name was on the mortgage at the time. The divorce decree stated that she would have to secure her own mortgage for the house, which she never did. Three months later she abandoned the house and told me to sell it. We executed a quit claim deed removing her from the title in order to facilitate the sale of the house. I arranged for a short-sale of the house with the mortgage company. The mortgage company is requiring $5000 or a promisory note at closing. I approached her at providing the money to satisfy the funds necessary in excess of the sale price ($5000), and she said that her lawyer had advised her that she had no legal obligation to make any payments whatsoever. I am unsure whether or not I will be able to recover any money from her that I paid to the mortgage company and would like more information prior to seeking advise from a lawyer and incurring additional legal expenses. Any advice is greatly appreciated.