tanyashaw79 Posted July 21, 2024 Share Posted July 21, 2024 I am going through a very messy divorce at the moment and I just don't know who or what to believe. I don't know if I can trust my solicitor or whether she's just telling me what I want to hear and forcing me to spend more money with her (that I haven't got). I wondered if anyone can give me some advice on our financial settlement please? We are due to have our final financial hearing early October and I wondered if anyone can give me an indication of what would be deemed a fair settlement please. My ex is offering me an out of court offer but I really don't think it's fair and reasonable (my solicitor and the law clinic both agree but haven't elaborated on what I should be counter offering) and I don't trust my ex at all. Ex hasn't taken the fact that I've applied for child maintenance kindly and is now refusing to pay the mortgage on the family home he resides in alone to force me into accepting his out of court offer. His family have offered to lend him the money to buy me out and pay off the existing mortgage with only a small amount to be paid back to them each month by him. He knows I can't get blacklisted as I will have to buy/rent further down the line. He doesn't have to worry about that because of his family's money. He won't use the family money to pay the mortgage but is instead forcing me to pay it all. We have two young children who reside with me 60% of the time. We are due to go back to court for the child arrangements in November and he is pushing for 50/50 custody. I have raised serious allegations involving emotional and financial abuse and coercive control for which CAFCASS are going to get involved for. Our financial situations are as follows: Various house valuations last year all said between £300 & £325k. Mortgage outstanding of £175,000 now (offer to me was made at £178k) His offer was: Average house valuation of £312,500 Minus outstanding mortgage £178k Minus early repayment fee and cost of sale (£12k) 50% of equity is £61,250 Minus the difference in our pensions (£4.5k) = £56k offered to me to settle out of court. My ex: Works Full time and earns £33k per annum Lives in the 3 bedroom family home with mortgage of £1000 per month. (Which he now isn't paying) Has approx £5k in debt Pension is £31.5k Pays £210 per month child maintenance but is now not paying any of the mortgage because of this. When he buys me out (and pays off the mortgage) with his family's money he will be mortgage free and paying them back £400 per month Me: Works Part time and earns £24k per annum Rents 2 bedroom flat through a private landlord. Has approx £20k of debt (currently having to pay the mortgage on the family home on my credit card to stop us both getting bad credit). I had to take out a loan of £9k before I moved out to help set up a new home for myself and the children as ex wouldn't allow me to take any household goods with me. A large portion of this loan would be marital debt. Pension is £39k (majority accumulated before marriage as I was on maternity leave with children and then have been part time since). I have a mortgage capacity and can borrow £90k Ex's behaviour has been nothing but awful since separation. Cancelled the mortgage direct debit without talking to the lender to try and negotiate a holiday or reduced amount because he was trying to scare me into accepting his offer. I've contacted the lender and requested an interest only amount (ex has since cancelled this). Surely this shows his intention to scare me into accepting his offer and not because he genuinely can't afford it? He messages once a week to ask me why I applied for CM in the first place and why I didn't leave it how it was (me paying ALL child expenses and him paying the mortgage). He states that he is the children's father and is 'entitled' to 50/50 custody yet thinks I shouldn't have applied for maintenance. He refuses to put the house on the market because he wants to stay there after settlement (by using his family's money) but won't pay off the mortgage before the hearing because he's worried I'll go for 50% of the whole house value instead of just the equity. I've assured him I wouldn't. It's all just a mess. I'm sick of getting into debt but I'm so sick of his coercive control and now this financial abuse that I'm so reluctant to just give in to him. I just don't know what to do for the best and I don't know who I can trust to tell me the truth. Can anyone advise me on what sort of % I might be entitled to? Thank you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahP Posted July 23, 2024 Share Posted July 23, 2024 On 7/21/2024 at 9:23 AM, tanyashaw79 said: I am going through a very messy divorce at the moment and I just don't know who or what to believe. I don't know if I can trust my solicitor or whether she's just telling me what I want to hear and forcing me to spend more money with her (that I haven't got). Hi Tanya, I know how you feel - I got really paranoid that I couldn't trust anyone on either side, when you get to that stage it can feel extremely lonely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter B Posted July 23, 2024 Share Posted July 23, 2024 On 7/21/2024 at 9:23 AM, tanyashaw79 said: My ex: Works Full time and earns £33k per annum Lives in the 3 bedroom family home with mortgage of £1000 per month. (Which he now isn't paying) Has approx £5k in debt Pension is £31.5k Pays £210 per month child maintenance but is now not paying any of the mortgage because of this. When he buys me out (and pays off the mortgage) with his family's money he will be mortgage free and paying them back £400 per month Me: Works Part time and earns £24k per annum Rents 2 bedroom flat through a private landlord. Has approx £20k of debt (currently having to pay the mortgage on the family home on my credit card to stop us both getting bad credit). I had to take out a loan of £9k before I moved out to help set up a new home for myself and the children as ex wouldn't allow me to take any household goods with me. A large portion of this loan would be marital debt. Pension is £39k (majority accumulated before marriage as I was on maternity leave with children and then have been part time since). I have a mortgage capacity and can borrow £90k Hi Tanya, You didn't state what his mortgage capacity is, the court will need to know this so they can work out what's fair. Also you didn't state your ages, mortgage capacity will be based on your ages as well and what the maximum term you could borrow against. If he earns more than you and has a higher mortgage capacity you will likely end up with more equity than him. The court may want to see you both maximise your earning potential as well so I'm not sure whether this is an option for you or him. I believe all the debts will be shared as well, so effectively £25k will be taken off the total pot before it's split, but you will need a solicitor to confirm. Presumably this is all on your Form Es. On the face of it I would think you should get more than 50% of the total equity so you have enough deposit and can afford your monthly payments. Will you be buying a house or are you intending to rent ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah W Posted July 23, 2024 Share Posted July 23, 2024 On 7/21/2024 at 9:23 AM, tanyashaw79 said: I am going through a very messy divorce at the moment and I just don't know who or what to believe. I don't know if I can trust my solicitor or whether she's just telling me what I want to hear and forcing me to spend more money with her (that I haven't got). I wondered if anyone can give me some advice on our financial settlement please? We are due to have our final financial hearing early October and I wondered if anyone can give me an indication of what would be deemed a fair settlement please. My ex is offering me an out of court offer but I really don't think it's fair and reasonable (my solicitor and the law clinic both agree but haven't elaborated on what I should be counter offering) and I don't trust my ex at all. Ex hasn't taken the fact that I've applied for child maintenance kindly and is now refusing to pay the mortgage on the family home he resides in alone to force me into accepting his out of court offer. His family have offered to lend him the money to buy me out and pay off the existing mortgage with only a small amount to be paid back to them each month by him. He knows I can't get blacklisted as I will have to buy/rent further down the line. He doesn't have to worry about that because of his family's money. He won't use the family money to pay the mortgage but is instead forcing me to pay it all. We have two young children who reside with me 60% of the time. We are due to go back to court for the child arrangements in November and he is pushing for 50/50 custody. I have raised serious allegations involving emotional and financial abuse and coercive control for which CAFCASS are going to get involved for. Our financial situations are as follows: Various house valuations last year all said between £300 & £325k. Mortgage outstanding of £175,000 now (offer to me was made at £178k) His offer was: Average house valuation of £312,500 Minus outstanding mortgage £178k Minus early repayment fee and cost of sale (£12k) 50% of equity is £61,250 Minus the difference in our pensions (£4.5k) = £56k offered to me to settle out of court. My ex: Works Full time and earns £33k per annum Lives in the 3 bedroom family home with mortgage of £1000 per month. (Which he now isn't paying) Has approx £5k in debt Pension is £31.5k Pays £210 per month child maintenance but is now not paying any of the mortgage because of this. When he buys me out (and pays off the mortgage) with his family's money he will be mortgage free and paying them back £400 per month Me: Works Part time and earns £24k per annum Rents 2 bedroom flat through a private landlord. Has approx £20k of debt (currently having to pay the mortgage on the family home on my credit card to stop us both getting bad credit). I had to take out a loan of £9k before I moved out to help set up a new home for myself and the children as ex wouldn't allow me to take any household goods with me. A large portion of this loan would be marital debt. Pension is £39k (majority accumulated before marriage as I was on maternity leave with children and then have been part time since). I have a mortgage capacity and can borrow £90k Ex's behaviour has been nothing but awful since separation. Cancelled the mortgage direct debit without talking to the lender to try and negotiate a holiday or reduced amount because he was trying to scare me into accepting his offer. I've contacted the lender and requested an interest only amount (ex has since cancelled this). Surely this shows his intention to scare me into accepting his offer and not because he genuinely can't afford it? He messages once a week to ask me why I applied for CM in the first place and why I didn't leave it how it was (me paying ALL child expenses and him paying the mortgage). He states that he is the children's father and is 'entitled' to 50/50 custody yet thinks I shouldn't have applied for maintenance. He refuses to put the house on the market because he wants to stay there after settlement (by using his family's money) but won't pay off the mortgage before the hearing because he's worried I'll go for 50% of the whole house value instead of just the equity. I've assured him I wouldn't. It's all just a mess. I'm sick of getting into debt but I'm so sick of his coercive control and now this financial abuse that I'm so reluctant to just give in to him. I just don't know what to do for the best and I don't know who I can trust to tell me the truth. Can anyone advise me on what sort of % I might be entitled to? Thank you. Hi Joanna, Unfortunately, I can't give legal advice or predict what a court would decide. However some things to consider in your situation: Your ex's offer seems low considering the house value and equity. The fact you have children who live with you a majority of the time strengthens your case for a larger share. The court may consider your ex's refusal to pay the mortgage and the attempt to scare you into accepting his offer as negative factors when dividing assets. The marital debt you accrued setting up a new home may be taken into account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyashaw79 Posted July 24, 2024 Author Share Posted July 24, 2024 On 7/23/2024 at 7:44 AM, SarahP said: Hi Tanya, I know how you feel - I got really paranoid that I couldn't trust anyone on either side, when you get to that stage it can feel extremely lonely. Hi Sarah, I think we've spoken before regarding my issues and that you've experienced something similar. It's really hard to know who to trust, it really is! I have seen instances where solicitors fight for their clients knowing that if they were to win it would be highly detrimental for the other party and completely not fair but they do it anyway. I really don't know how they sleep at night.... but that's another story. I hope you're doing okay Sarah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyashaw79 Posted July 24, 2024 Author Share Posted July 24, 2024 On 7/23/2024 at 8:03 AM, Peter B said: Hi Tanya, You didn't state what his mortgage capacity is, the court will need to know this so they can work out what's fair. Also you didn't state your ages, mortgage capacity will be based on your ages as well and what the maximum term you could borrow against. If he earns more than you and has a higher mortgage capacity you will likely end up with more equity than him. The court may want to see you both maximise your earning potential as well so I'm not sure whether this is an option for you or him. I believe all the debts will be shared as well, so effectively £25k will be taken off the total pot before it's split, but you will need a solicitor to confirm. Presumably this is all on your Form Es. On the face of it I would think you should get more than 50% of the total equity so you have enough deposit and can afford your monthly payments. Will you be buying a house or are you intending to rent ? Hello Peter, I hope you're well and thank you for your reply. I don't know what his mortgage capacity is but in the last financial hearing he made myself (and the judge) aware that his family are lending him the money to buy me out and pay off the existing mortgage and he is to pay them back £400 per month for the loan. This will mean he is mortgage free and won't need to borrow on a mortgage and will still be able to stay in the 3 bedroom family home. I am currently living in a 2 bedroom bungalow and as I said, the children reside with me 60% of the time. The fact that he is not going to have to get a mortgage or rent in the future reflects in his cruel decision to stop paying the mortgage. He is forcing me into debt and possibly getting a bad credit score (which will affect the quality of home I will be able to get for myself and our children), because it won't be an issue for him, because he wants me to accept his offer. It's financial abuse, it really is. I am 36 and he is 42. I have spoken to my solicitor regarding maximising my income. I currently work part time but the children are still very young (2 & 6) and she stated that the judge wouldn't be telling me that I have to go full time seeing as they are still so young and it wouldn't be financially beneficial because of childcare costs verses what I would potentially earn. All our debts were listed on our Form Es but the judge didn't really talk about debts in the first hearing. I left the family home with nothing as he wouldn't let me take anything for our new home so a lot of the debt was setting up our new home. We spoke about pensions and they said that as the gap is so low they probably wouldn't take them into consideration (but of course ex is still choosing to include it in his offer to me). I will also add that ex got a promotion last year and with it came much higher pension contributions from his employer so his pension will have caught up with mine by the hearing, and possibly have overtaken it. When my ex was pressuring me to accept his out of court offer earlier this year he did say that he had stopped paying into his pension, so the gap (in his favour) would grow even further. I really don't believe him though. He is always using threats to control me into doing things, although stopping the mortgage is a threat he's carried on through with I'm afraid. With a mortgage capacity of only £90k I will have to look into shared ownership I think. Whereas he will be staying in the 3 bed family home, mortgage free. We have only had one financial hearing so far but I'm sure they said that the hearing in October is the final one and an all day affair. I'm really hoping it is as I just can't go on paying for the whole of his mortgage while paying my own rent as well. Something has to give. I have read about occupational orders. If for whatever reason settlement isn't decided in October I'm wondering whether the court would allow myself and the children to move back into the family home and ask him to move out. I can't see why he should be able to stay there (when it will be proven that he can afford to pay the mortgage but just isn't doing so to force me into accepting his offer). He has his family's money but is saying he can't afford to pay the mortgage because I applied for child maintenance, it's just ridiculous. It's all about control for him and someone has to tell him to stop. I thank you for all your advice Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyashaw79 Posted July 24, 2024 Author Share Posted July 24, 2024 On 7/23/2024 at 8:07 AM, Noah W said: Hi Joanna, Unfortunately, I can't give legal advice or predict what a court would decide. However some things to consider in your situation: Your ex's offer seems low considering the house value and equity. The fact you have children who live with you a majority of the time strengthens your case for a larger share. The court may consider your ex's refusal to pay the mortgage and the attempt to scare you into accepting his offer as negative factors when dividing assets. The marital debt you accrued setting up a new home may be taken into account. Thank you Noah! My ex has gone for the bare minimum (as he would) and is only choosing to include the things that suits him (my pension being slightly higher than his for instance). He is not taking into consideration anything else - debt, his mortgage capacity being much better, me having the children more, his salary being higher, his despicable behaviour and how it's forcing me into more debt which will lower my mortgage capacity. I genuinely think that he was so certain that I would accept his offer that he hasn't thought about what the consequences would be of doing it. I'm really hoping that the judge will see this. He is going for 50/50 child custody but we have another dispute resolution hearing in October as well, so at the final financial hearing in October it will still be 50/50. Thank you for your advice Noah! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahP Posted July 27, 2024 Share Posted July 27, 2024 On 7/24/2024 at 10:55 PM, tanyashaw79 said: Hi Sarah, I think we've spoken before regarding my issues and that you've experienced something similar. It's really hard to know who to trust, it really is! I have seen instances where solicitors fight for their clients knowing that if they were to win it would be highly detrimental for the other party and completely not fair but they do it anyway. I really don't know how they sleep at night.... but that's another story. I hope you're doing okay Sarah. Hi Tanya, Yes we spoke before, I'm good thanks, I hope you're ok. I completely agree it's really hard to determine who can be trusted in all this! I swear both sides try to drag it all out as long as possible so they can earn as much as possible, I know they have to make money but they are the only winners in this. It's not a job I could do that's for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter B Posted July 29, 2024 Share Posted July 29, 2024 On 7/24/2024 at 11:25 PM, tanyashaw79 said: I don't know what his mortgage capacity is but in the last financial hearing he made myself (and the judge) aware that his family are lending him the money to buy me out and pay off the existing mortgage and he is to pay them back £400 per month for the loan. This will mean he is mortgage free and won't need to borrow on a mortgage and will still be able to stay in the 3 bedroom family home. I am currently living in a 2 bedroom bungalow and as I said, the children reside with me 60% of the time. The fact that he is not going to have to get a mortgage or rent in the future reflects in his cruel decision to stop paying the mortgage. He is forcing me into debt and possibly getting a bad credit score (which will affect the quality of home I will be able to get for myself and our children), because it won't be an issue for him, because he wants me to accept his offer. It's financial abuse, it really is. The court will need to know whether conduct needs to be considered as part of the divorce ... Conduct refers to the behaviour of one or both spouses during the marriage or during the divorce proceedings. In the context of divorce, it's one of the factors a court can consider when dividing assets or determining spousal maintenance. Here are a few links What does conduct actually mean in divorce law? Examining Conduct in Financial Remedy Cases What is the Meaning of Conduct in Form E of Divorce? When is Conduct Considered? Crucially, the court will only consider conduct if it's extremely serious and has a significant impact on the financial situation. It's not enough to simply cite adultery or unreasonable behaviour as grounds for divorce to automatically influence the financial settlement. Types of Conduct Generally, there are two main types of conduct considered by the court: Financial misconduct: This includes actions like hiding assets, wasting marital assets, or incurring unnecessary debts. Personal misconduct: This is typically limited to extreme cases of abuse, violence, or other serious misconduct that has had a profound impact on the financial situation. The High Bar for Conduct It's important to note that the court sets a very high bar for conduct to be considered. The misconduct must be so egregious that it would be unfair to ignore it when dividing assets. Seeking Legal Advice If you believe your spouse's conduct might be relevant to your divorce settlement, it's crucial to consult with a family law attorney. They can assess the specific circumstances of your case and advise you on whether pursuing a conduct argument is likely to be successful. On 7/24/2024 at 11:25 PM, tanyashaw79 said: I am 36 and he is 42. I have spoken to my solicitor regarding maximising my income. I currently work part time but the children are still very young (2 & 6) and she stated that the judge wouldn't be telling me that I have to go full time seeing as they are still so young and it wouldn't be financially beneficial because of childcare costs verses what I would potentially earn. Yes, that makes sense given you have young children to look after On 7/24/2024 at 11:25 PM, tanyashaw79 said: I'm wondering whether the court would allow myself and the children to move back into the family home and ask him to move out. I can't see why he should be able to stay there (when it will be proven that he can afford to pay the mortgage but just isn't doing so to force me into accepting his offer). He has his family's money but is saying he can't afford to pay the mortgage because I applied for child maintenance, it's just ridiculous. It's all about control for him and someone has to tell him to stop. Yes, I guess that could be an option seeing as you still partly own the house and the children need to be housed. Was there a reason you moved out to start with ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah W Posted July 29, 2024 Share Posted July 29, 2024 On 7/24/2024 at 11:34 PM, tanyashaw79 said: My ex has gone for the bare minimum (as he would) and is only choosing to include the things that suits him (my pension being slightly higher than his for instance). He is not taking into consideration anything else - debt, his mortgage capacity being much better, me having the children more, his salary being higher, his despicable behaviour and how it's forcing me into more debt which will lower my mortgage capacity. I genuinely think that he was so certain that I would accept his offer that he hasn't thought about what the consequences would be of doing it. I'm really hoping that the judge will see this. He is going for 50/50 child custody but we have another dispute resolution hearing in October as well, so at the final financial hearing in October it will still be 50/50. Hello again @tanyashaw79, I was trying to get some clarity about whether the financial support your ex's family is providing him will be taken into account during divorce settlement, here is what I found, specifically refer to 'How Financial Support from Family Might Be Relevant' ... Your Ex-Husband's Financial Support and Divorce Settlement Generally, the source of your ex-husband's income, whether it's from employment, investments, or family support, doesn't directly impact the divorce settlement. The courts are primarily concerned with the overall financial position of each party. What Matters in a Divorce Settlement Income: This includes all sources of income, regardless of where it comes from. Assets: This includes property, savings, investments, and other valuable possessions. Debts: Shared financial responsibilities like mortgages, loans, and credit card debts. Needs: This includes housing, childcare, and other living expenses. Length of marriage: The duration of the marriage can influence the settlement. Standard of living: The lifestyle enjoyed during the marriage can be a factor. How Financial Support from Family Might Be Relevant While the source of income isn't typically a deciding factor, there are some indirect ways it could influence the settlement: Hidden Assets: If the family support is substantial and is used to purchase assets, it might be considered in the division of property. Lifestyle Maintenance: If the family support allows your ex-husband to maintain a significantly higher standard of living than would be possible based on his own income, it could impact the determination of spousal maintenance. As ever it's crucial to consult with a family law attorney to understand how these factors might apply to your specific situation. They can provide tailored advice based on the laws in your jurisdiction and the details of your case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyashaw79 Posted September 19, 2024 Author Share Posted September 19, 2024 On 7/29/2024 at 8:19 AM, Peter B said: The court will need to know whether conduct needs to be considered as part of the divorce ... Conduct refers to the behaviour of one or both spouses during the marriage or during the divorce proceedings. In the context of divorce, it's one of the factors a court can consider when dividing assets or determining spousal maintenance. Here are a few links What does conduct actually mean in divorce law? Examining Conduct in Financial Remedy Cases What is the Meaning of Conduct in Form E of Divorce? When is Conduct Considered? Crucially, the court will only consider conduct if it's extremely serious and has a significant impact on the financial situation. It's not enough to simply cite adultery or unreasonable behaviour as grounds for divorce to automatically influence the financial settlement. Types of Conduct Generally, there are two main types of conduct considered by the court: Financial misconduct: This includes actions like hiding assets, wasting marital assets, or incurring unnecessary debts. Personal misconduct: This is typically limited to extreme cases of abuse, violence, or other serious misconduct that has had a profound impact on the financial situation. The High Bar for Conduct It's important to note that the court sets a very high bar for conduct to be considered. The misconduct must be so egregious that it would be unfair to ignore it when dividing assets. Seeking Legal Advice If you believe your spouse's conduct might be relevant to your divorce settlement, it's crucial to consult with a family law attorney. They can assess the specific circumstances of your case and advise you on whether pursuing a conduct argument is likely to be successful. Yes, that makes sense given you have young children to look after Yes, I guess that could be an option seeing as you still partly own the house and the children need to be housed. Was there a reason you moved out to start with ? Hello again Peter, Thank you ever so much for all the information and I hope you are well! I am frantically getting everything ready for the hearing which is tomorrow. I have had to succumb and hire a barrister which I've had to put on my credit card. Ex's position statement is full of lies so I'm spending tonight trying to find the evidence that proves it's all lies and hopefully the court will see through him tomorrow. I am hoping his conduct will be frowned upon and that the court makes a fair decision. In terms of reasons why I moved out of the family home. It was such a toxic atmosphere for the children and I, I just couldn't stay there any longer. He was never going to move out so I felt at the time that my mental health as well as the children's was the most important thing. Even though moving out has put me into financial difficulty I genuinely believe it was the right thing to do. He would never agree to sell the house so I had to take him to court in order to get get things dealt with. He was just saying that he was entitled to stay in the house until the girls were 18 so had no intention of moving out. Any advice before I tackle court in the morning please? 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter B Posted October 27, 2024 Share Posted October 27, 2024 (edited) On 9/19/2024 at 4:09 PM, tanyashaw79 said: I am frantically getting everything ready for the hearing which is tomorrow. I have had to succumb and hire a barrister which I've had to put on my credit card. Ex's position statement is full of lies so I'm spending tonight trying to find the evidence that proves it's all lies and hopefully the court will see through him tomorrow. I am hoping his conduct will be frowned upon and that the court makes a fair decision. Hi Tanya, Sorry for the delay, how did your hearing go ? From my own experience a barrister is worth every penny, hopefully your barrister delivered on the day for you. How did your evidence gathering go, I've learnt it's incredibly important to gather as much evidence as possible and get everything logged along the way. It turns out all this evidence is absolutely critical when you eventually go to court, the judge will take a very dim view of your ex's lies - this should help you a lot if you can prove it. On 9/19/2024 at 4:09 PM, tanyashaw79 said: In terms of reasons why I moved out of the family home. It was such a toxic atmosphere for the children and I, I just couldn't stay there any longer. He was never going to move out so I felt at the time that my mental health as well as the children's was the most important thing. Even though moving out has put me into financial difficulty I genuinely believe it was the right thing to do. He would never agree to sell the house so I had to take him to court in order to get get things dealt with. He was just saying that he was entitled to stay in the house until the girls were 18 so had no intention of moving out. It sounds like you did the right thing moving out, you can show you did this to protect the children which in the eyes of the court is the most important thing to address. In the short term I'm sure it was stressful and resulted in you struggling financially however you & the children will definitely come out better in the long term as a result. If your case ended up as a Mesher order it may have ended up with you being in the house until the girls were 18 rather than him. I'm keen to know how it went in the end - was this a final hearing ? Edited October 27, 2024 by Peter B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.