Ex wife citing adultery

[MintCakeYum]

DP left his ex because she was violent and unstable.

We got together a few months later, they were still legally married although obviously not living together.

This was 2 years ago. He asked her for a divorce and she cited 'adultery' as the reason, meaning he has to pay for it.

He didn't leave her through adultery.

She doesn't work so could have got the divorce for free rather than making DP pay for the whole thing.

DP agreed as he just wants the divorce over and done with.

They have a child together and he already pays £100 more maintenance a month than he's required to.

He is struggling financially at the moment and feels like she's being vindictive.

[MintCakeYum]

Sorry, posted too soon.

So I guess I'm asking is she being unreasonable?

[Fourormore]

She will have to prove it unless he "admits" it.

[Tiggeryoubastard]

If he wants a divorce why shouldn't he pay for it?

[PaulDacresMicroPenis]

^^ What Tiggery said.

Are divorces free if one of the partners are unemployed?

[MintCakeYum]

He would have been happy to pay for it if he'd realised she was going to cite adultery. Then at least he could have given the real reasons why he left.

He has agreed to it as he just wanted it done. She has been making it difficult.

I suppose legally it is adultery if you have a relationship before a decree absolute is granted, although that doesn't mean it the reason for the marriage breaking down.

[MintCakeYum]

Yes they are free, she would have got a fee remittance.

[Fourormore]

It doesn't really matter. No one ever sees the paperwork. My DHs ex wife did similar. Annoying but not worth the hassle. My DH didn't have to pay for the divorce though, so not sure where that's come from.

[GarlicShake]

No, the adulterer doesn't have to pay the costs She can seek a costs order against him. I tend to think he may as well pay.

There's no more legal aid for divorce if you're unemployed. Where's all this coming from? Since you're so interested, you might want to learn the basics.

[HermioneJeanGranger]

If you earn over a certain amount, you have to pay for a divorce. If you earn under a certain amount or claim certain benefits, you can fill in a form with the petition and you don't have to pay any fees.

But, if your DP is desperate to get divorced, he should just pay for it. It's about £400 to go through the courts yourself - might be a bit more complicated if they have property/custody issues, though.

[GarlicShake]

£550. It's just gone up.

I would expect that, rather than award a remission to the unemployed spouse, a court would order costs against the one who can pay.

Assuming he wants the divorce, adultery's as good a reason as any other.

[HappyJanuary]

None of that's true op. If the divorce is being granted on the grounds of adultery then he signed to agree to it, or she was able to prove it in another way.

And if he's paying, then he agreed to pay for it.

[Fourormore]

I would expect that, rather than award a remission to the unemployed spouse, a court would order costs against the one who can pay.

Things might have changed in the last 5 or so years but I got a fee remission even though my exH had the means to pay the court fee.

[MintCakeYum]

He definitely has to pay for it, I will re read the letter when I get home. I'm guessing because she's unemployed?


It's just annoying that he pays her double what is required and rather than being truthful and getting the divorce for nothing she has cited adultery so he has to pay.

[GarlicShake]

Has he asked her to cite unreasonable behaviour instead?

[MintCakeYum]

She would definitely have had a fee remittance, we spoke to the admin team at the court.

[MintCakeYum]

Yes he did, or abandonment. Both of those would have been closer to the truth.

[Stardust160]

Could he of actually cheated tho, remember your getting his side not necessarily the truth. It's rubbish he has to pay but then it's the final connection( minus the child) to her and it's done with and he can move on with you?

[Tiggeryoubastard]

So he only pays her £200 a month maintenance? For how many kids? And before I'm flamed for bringing this up OP is the one saying he pays £100 more than needed then that he pays double.

[MintCakeYum]

No, she tried to put me down as the third party! Technically we were committing adultery as they weren't divorced, but they were estranged.

[Potatoface2]

So he gives her £200 a month then for child maintanance?

[Tiggeryoubastard]

And because he wants a divorce he expects the taxpayer to pay for it? Why shouldn't he pay?

[MintCakeYum]

I get £200 a month for three DC

[tuesdaywednesday]

The reason for the divorce is the adultery, even if it isn't the reason for the break down of the relationship. Adultery doesn't just mean an affair in this context.

[Tiggeryoubastard]

How many children is he paying for?