Ducks in a row. What does this mean?

[imaginethemdragons]

Where do you start with this?
For those who have done it, where did you start and what was your plan?

Thinking ahead, that’s all.

In corporate world (we'll the one I wrote in anyway), it means you get everything in place in order to make a decision.

Very dependent on the circumstances

Or to have everything ready to make a metaphorical move e.g if you were buying a house you'd have a mortgage agreement in principle, deposit sorted etc. so that when you make an offer you're an attractive buyer who's ready to move.

It means you focus on yourself and what's best for you. Basically look after your own interests.

@Moonface123

It means you focus on yourself and what's best for you. Basically look after your own interests.

This is not what it means

It means your sort everything out first then, and only then, you go for it.

How you do it depends on what it is you want to do.

If it's literal ducks I think you send a dog in to scare them and then when they fly up together (in a row) bang bang bang.

I think OP knows what it means but what do you actually DO to leave a relationship ?

I guess ringfence as much money as possible, get all your important docs together, have somewhere/someone safe ready to receive you if necessary? Depends on circumstances and dynamics I’d guess. Sorry you’re having to think about this OP!

I'm assuming OP is referring to ending a relationship (which is where it is most often used on MN) rather than asking what the phrase means

It entirely depends on the consequence. Usually used to refer to the upcoming end of a relationship/marriage but can be used to refer to other circumstances. You need to provide more context but in any case it means having your affairs in order before making the leap.

I mean entirely depends on circumstance! Not consequence - although that too is a factor.

For ending a relationship:

Gather all the paperwork - birth certificates, marriage certificate, bank statements, payslips, any paper evidence of savings, debts, earnings for both parties if married. House paperwork if it's jointly owned and your not married.

Get your own bank account, get money in bank account

Get child benefit in your name, get a job/better job, get reliable childcare

That sort of thing.

LTB ducks in a row means things like sorting out;
Finances.
Jobs.
Savings.
Housing.
Education.
Childcare.

Also taking advice. People used to come to Cab all the time when I volunteered there to talk the situation through & get plans together.

You need evidence of bank accounts and statements, income, mortgage or rent details, all bills, birth certificates for any children, marriage certificate, children's passports.

If you’re going to leave a partner, you may wish to gather financial documents before you tell him/her your plans and they start hiding evidence of bank balances or other important financial info.

These days most things are digital, so a good idea to scan/photo any documents you might need, if they need to be hidden then maybe hide them in your phone under cat /pet pictures or similar.
I recently had to reapply for housing register everything had to be sent digitally, as most things like payslips were online only it helped as I don't even have a printer!

Joint mortgage. What then?
If I were to leave, what then?

One of you could buy the other one out or the house can be sold and the money appropriately split.

Are you married and in the U.K. ?

Yes

It’s the kids home.
Couldn’t sell it.
Couldn’t afford to buy anyone out.

A situation many are in. Some stay with horrible partners for years as they are scared of the unknown.

Sometimes the circumstances they live in are dangerous to them if the partner is abusive. Don’t put yourself in danger if that’s you. Go on the womens aid and shelter websites and see if there is any helpful info on there. I know it’s hard to get through in the phones.

I think the courts can allow women and children to remain in the family home with the husband moving out and paying his share of the mortgage and also rental on a property for himself, but there are many circumstances to be taken into consideration. Such as your incomes.

It’s more usual for the house to be sold.

Why can’t you sell the house? It’s just a house. If there’s love then any house will be a home for the kids and you.

Do you have any capital in the house? Does your husband earn over £100k as high earners can be made to pay spousal maintenance?

Do you work? I’m presuming so as you’re on half the mortgage.

Remember you can in many circumstances get half of all his assets in divorce, pensions, savings etc.

Make sure the family allowance is in your name as that pays your national insurance stamp if you’re not working.

If you get a decent amount of the equity then perhaps shared ownership could be a possibility- in a less expensive area, a smaller place etc.

Marital assets including pensions, cars etc

Having your dicks in a row means knowing where al your passports/birth certificates are, having your wages paid into your account (not a joint account) having access to joint savings, having he mortgage in both your names, basically having a grip on your finances, including what is owed where, onc Racy/car insurance so you can manage on your own if you need to.

Ultimately you may need to sell your house, so you need to be aware of how much it's worth and what you could afford to buy/rent by yourself.

@WildJelly I think having your dicks in a row is something altogether different