hiding assets

[rita2007]

would a hand written note stating he would not transfer ownership of his properties hold up in a courtroom if we got to that stage? anyone..... please advise. many many thanks

[Collaborate]

Stage? Of what?

[mumblechum1]

Bit of background please, OP! Who is trying to do what about what?

[rita2007]

no stage yet. was about to file for petition but he talked me out of it and i was honest with him about my fears....i.e. him hiding assets in preparation of inevitable and he said he'd write ti down

[mumblechum1]

The thing to do, OP is get a solicitor on board as soon as possible. You will probably be advised to obtain either an avoidance of disposition injunction (freezing injunction) on assets such as bank accounts, and/or to register notice of your interest in any real property at the Land Registry.

Handwritten notes are not, generally, good enough. A solicitor will help guide you through the process and advise on the best way to protect your interests.

[rita2007]

i did have a lawyer but put it all on hold as husband wanted time to "try". Now i am waiting for just few weeks as told him i cant give him past dec end to move on. i thought a freeze on such activities cant be done until i petition for a seperation anyhow

[mumblechum1]

If there is a real danger of him disposing of assets such as money in the bank, you should get on with issuing your petition and at the same time lodge an appln for an avoidance of disposition order. Your husband wouldn't be notified of the latter until an interim order has been made (obviously, if he had notice of it he could go ahead and dispose of the assets).

If we're talking houses, you don't need to lodge the petition yet but should file notice at the Land Registry.

Sorry to be blunt but you really need to get your finger out and see your solicitor asap if there's a likelihood of your h hiding or disposing of assets.

[Ruthcosta]

From a legal perspective there?s not much to worry about in terms of him hiding property assets, as it?s easy to trace ownership history and other key details, which are lodged with the land registry/local authorities etc. Unless the properties are based overseas or held under some kind of corporate shell, such as a limited company or legal holding entity with its tax base abroad, such as the Cayman Islands, I really wouldn?t panic on that front. In all my years of family law no-one has been able to ? or even tried to ? hide property based in the UK, as it?s a hiding to nothing. It?s when a spouse has a range of international holdings with opaque ownership vehicles that things can get murky.

[mumblechum1]

Quite, BB, and my colleague had one last yr where the H had bipolar, was v v wealthy, sole properties worth well over £3m net in the UK and buggered off to the Middle East never to be heard of again. He (my colleague) kept advising the client to get on with protecting the assets but she kept wanting to give him one last chance...