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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Dating a man who is long term separated but not seeking a divorce

308 replies

Eulalia2 · 31/12/2018 17:09

I am a widow of 3 years and started a relationship with a man 9 months ago. It’s quite serious and we see each other almost every day and we spend the night together 2 nights a week. He’s been separated for 8 years. I asked him why he’d never divorced and he said at the time of the break up he felt it was less traumatic for his kids, older two were in the their twenties and youngest was 14. I’ve hinted that I feel that he’s not really free for me and he’s said he would do something about it in the future. Whenever it comes up he’s always very vague or just doesn’t speak. I know there is nothing between them as she’s living with somone else although their relationship isn’t that great. He finished with a rather causal but long term relationship almost a year ago. I think he feels its too soon to talk about our future but when is the right time? I’ve been quite ill mentally and only just started feeling better recently and he even said I might not want to stay with him. However I love him to bits and he’s said the same to me. I suppose what bothers me is that regardless of how he feels it works out with us he doesn’t have the incentive to actually take that step and divorce her. Is it just a man thing that men won’t do that unless pushed to? Should I back off or should I talk more?

OP posts:
ConcreteUnderpants · 31/12/2018 18:56

Crossed posts with Jamie!
And 9 months seeing each other everyday isn't a small thing. Asking about whether you may have a future is an entirely reasonable request. Although from your latest update, it certainly explains a few things.

selkiesolstice · 31/12/2018 19:00

I think it's deliberate. He's unmarriable which suits him, and I understand it.

Eulalia2 · 31/12/2018 19:01

He’s financing the renovation costs and doing the labour so I have to pay him back somehow.

OP posts:
selkiesolstice · 31/12/2018 19:01

OMG sorry WHAT are you doing with your house!?!?!
Are you insane?
I"m not going to pussyfoot around that but if he's married to somebody else then do not for the love of all that is sane, give him one half of your house.

Charge him a very low nominal rent in exchange for the work. 100 a month if you like but it has to be RENT as you are the OWNER

Balibabe1 · 31/12/2018 19:05

Oh, that’s a complete game changer to my original response!
Given the house revelation, then you need to have an honest discussion and have legal advice with a contract in place prior to any works starting. In fact the more I think of it the more angry I’m getting thinking he is taking advantage! (He May well not be) futureproofing you is your priority.

pollyname · 31/12/2018 19:10

The renovation sounds incredibly beneficial towards him - have you spoken to a financial advisor, estate agent, lawyer? What are the renovations? Are they equal value to half a house? I certainly wouldn't go through with this while he is still married. You are making a MASSIVE commitment and he is actually in a position of not being able to commit at all. It sounds like you will be very linked to him after only 9 months.

I've had a friend who recently had her boyfriend go back to his first wife - it was horrible. He had never divorced his first wife, which left her in the situation of having to agree that he needed to 'save his marriage'

Eulalia2 · 31/12/2018 19:27

It benefits both of us. He pays upfront and does the work and it is a lot of work, the house is divided and I get the larger one to sell (currently living in a council house) and he gets the smaller one. Otherwise I’d have to finance it myself and pay labour costs. It is a few years down the line before I’d sign it over to him but don’t like the idea of losing it completely if anything happened to him. No way he’d ever go back to her, she has someone else anyway.

OP posts:
greendale17 · 31/12/2018 19:28

No way would I get involved with a man like that.

JamieOliversChickenNugget · 31/12/2018 19:40

The labour surely wouldn't be the cost of a house? Bloody hell, please think twice over this x

PerverseConverse · 31/12/2018 19:55

Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

Balibabe1 · 31/12/2018 20:14

You are being played.

greendale17 · 31/12/2018 20:24

You realise if you give him half of your house his wife will be entitled to a share if they ever get divorced.

This man is playing you. Please wake up and see this otherwise you will lose everything.

PenguinPandas · 31/12/2018 20:25

Sorry to say this but I be suspicious. Men I have met know exactly what they want and when they make up excuses its normally to avoid something they don't want or not tell you what they are really after. I think current arrangement suits him fine, he's got no plans to marry you but will stick with you until he gets the house or longer if that suits him. I definitely would discuss things with him and make boundaries you aren't prepared to cross like if you want marriage and he doesn't leave and be very careful with your house.

HRTpatch · 31/12/2018 20:27

Wtf???
He must be shit hot in bed to have made you lost your mind

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 31/12/2018 20:37

He does the renovations
Gets the house (one hell of an hourly rate there)
He and wife get back together and you get nothing.
Years down the line you find they both planned this all along.
Wake up op - do NOT do this ffs.

PenguinPandas · 31/12/2018 20:39

I would get an estate agent in to value property before and with works and rental value. Also get different quote for cost of works. I agree you need to pay him in someway but unless the houses were very cheap you could well be overpaying him. Am concerned as you sound vulnerable though if house value is very low it maybe reasonable but would feel a lot happier if say you had ran deal by someone with professional knowledge . An Estate agent would be a start as would a sensible friend. If you haven't got one get figures from EA and post on property section here. If in doubt would not do this.

whittingtonmum · 31/12/2018 20:52

Please don't go through with the renovation and sign over the house to him until you have taken advice as suggested above. It sounds like a very bad idea. I would also discuss this idea with friends and family and listen to their view on the matter.

PenguinPandas · 31/12/2018 21:09

Thinking about it a surveyors advice would be ideal but they would charge whereas EA will generally give valuation for free.

lifebegins50 · 31/12/2018 21:28

The house idea seems crazy, especially for a short relationship.

I think you are being way too trusting.

Do you have children?

DointItForTheKids · 31/12/2018 21:37

Sheer madness, delusion about the nature of your relationship, and naivety of the highest order OP.

Listen to what people are saying, for goodness sakes.

subspace · 31/12/2018 21:45

He’s financing the renovation costs and doing the labour so I have to pay him back somehow

With an entire house?!?!?!?!

Please for the love of god get official advice before you do that.

SpikyHedgehogg · 31/12/2018 21:57

Why are you mixing personal relationships with business? It is incredibly unwise.

SpikyHedgehogg · 31/12/2018 21:58

It is a few years down the line before I’d sign it over to him but don’t like the idea of losing it completely if anything happened to him

And this indicates to me that it’s not a straight forward business arrangement.

AnoukSpirit · 31/12/2018 22:03

He’s financing the renovation costs and doing the labour so I have to pay him back somehow

With an entire house?!?!?!?!

What the actual fuck? You're giving someone you've been in a relationship with for 9 months A HOUSE and your op is about his marital status?

I think there might be slightly larger issues here.

AnoukSpirit · 31/12/2018 22:04

Whose idea was the reno? And when did he generously offer to do it?

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