Will him hiding out overseas legally shield him?

It may be a tough pill to swallow if you feel you’re totally right, but you may be surprised at the LEGAL opinion rendered by counsel.  

Various legal setups can  mitigate a large part of this risk.  

To do this legally, I know plans need to be drawn and submitted to the Planning Board.

If they know you, have spoken to you many times, and you have always been friendly with them, just explain your points, that there is no legal reason to deny your plans, and ask them what you can do to help get it approved.

I have helped clients identify attorneys so they can have their legal rights protected.

p.s. thank you @ScottTrench for your guidance as well!

Your client should consult a real estate attorney to draft an agreement with the ex and ensure there are no legal or tax issues, especially since this is an investment property.

Also, consider working with lenders who specialize in multifamily financing to ensure you're prepared when a deal comes up.If you need financing options or guidance on structuring a multifamily deal, let me know.

Good Morning,I am a former Claims Specialist with the Social Security Administration and currently unemployed homeowner who is looking for guidance on how to gain property management experience here in the Central Coast of California.My wife is the only one working at the moment, so times are tough to say the least.We're looking to rent out a portion of our home in order to save up enough money to purchase our second home (or multi-family unit), rent that out, and begin to expand our portfolio.