Posting on behalf of my mum who is currently in a tricky situation. She was married to my dad for over 30 years, he worked and she stayed at home and raised the 3 children. Later she became disabled and couldn’t work.
Throughout their entire marriage my dad was physically abusive to her and emotionally abusive. The police and social services were involved several times as a result but she never pressed charges due to fear.
Once she became disabled he controlled every penny she had, she wasn’t allowed to buy herself anything and he even used her disability money to apply for a car for him to use but wouldn’t take her anywhere.
Anyway fast forward a few years and she finally had enough and asked him to leave, by this point her family knew what was going on and were there to help make sure he left. He did leave taking the car that she was paying for so she couldn’t get her disability benefits back.
She has been struggling financially for the last 2 years while he drives around in the car she paid for, she’s paying all his debts and he’s got thousands in the bank plus a very high works pension that he can cash in.
He has now applied for divorce stating HER unreasonable behaviour!!! That would be her being so unreasonable to not continue letting him abuse her.
She has received a letter asking her to sign and agree to the divorce. She does want the divorce but I believe she should be entitled to some financial support as my dad wouldn’t have all his savings if it wasn’t for her paying for his car, also he wouldn’t have built his works pension up without her raising the children so how can it be fair that he does well out of this and she is struggling like she is.
The problem is she can’t afford a solicitor to argue this and legal aid is no longer granted for divorces. Does anyone know if I’m right that she’s entitled to financial support from him? If so how do we pursue this as part of the divorce without encuring legal fees?
The other option is for her to refuse the divorce and drag it out as he is set to inherit a property shortly which is why he is now issuing proceedings after 2 years.