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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to consider divorce after years of financial lies and deceit

151 replies

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:05

Over the last 5 years, my husband had been creating false HMRC bills which I had been paying to 'help' him. This came up to just under 30k. He has also racked up credit card debt (45k) and taken extra equity out of the home without my knowledge or consent(90k). He insisted at first that he had no knowledge of where the 90k equity had gone. It's only after contacting the conveyancing company sent evidence to show the money had gone to him that he 'remembered' getting the money. He then said he would not have done it without my consent. He also said it was used for home renovations at the time but hasn't yet shown me fully where all the money went. I personally cannot agree to take 90k out without even thinking of how to pay it back, so I feel he is lying about this. It's also come to light that where 2 signatures were required, he used his email address and a shared email address, rather than my direct email address. In addition to this, he sent me emails but omitted information to cover up his tracks. At that time, I had a lot of things going on so can honestly say I was not on the ball. Looking at dates, at one point, he was doing this when I had a lot going on, ie, new baby, sick/dying parents.

The strange thing is the money could have been asked for and given. He lies all the time - even with smaller things and has always found it hard to show emotional vulnerability and be open and honest with me. What I want to know is, what are the chances that he will change? I have known something was off for the last 9 years and it's all coming to light now. Should I just walk away now? He seems to only tells the truth once caught. He says he loves me but I cannot quantify this as love. Why did he steal and lie? Why from me? I suggested because I was gullible and he knew I had money set aside. He says it was about him and his issues and insecurities.

In his 'defence', he said he was struggling financially and found it hard to deal with. I understand financial struggles, but to steal, manipulate and lie? Especially from a person you supposedly love? I recently (last month) asked him to provide credit card statements to show he paid the HMRC the 'money owed'. He got them delivered, falsified the HMRC payments to make it look like he paid the HMRC and popped it back into the post, shredding the originals. All of this baring in mind HMRC don't accept credit card payments and haven't done so since 2018. Again, only admitting the payments were false once caught.

I am all over the place. After marriage, kids and history of 20 years together, I wonder if it's tine for me to call it a day? Has anyone been in this situation? I'm asking for a separation and considering a divorce. Am I being unreasonable to consider these things?

OP posts:
3luckystars · 03/08/2026 10:06

PashaMinaMio · 03/08/2026 09:19

Separate & divorce.
Just get it done.
He won’t change and you need peace.
Protect your peace, starting today.

Get out now. Get out now.

Please. It will only get worse.

Heronwatcher · 03/08/2026 10:08

Good god, this person is a psychopath. He will end up in prison for fraud.

Divorce asap and make absolutely sure that your financial settlement takes into account the money he’s stolen from you and frittered away. Get your own home, your own finances and make sure you can provide for yourself and your kids.

If he is in any way difficult about this tell him you’ll go to the police and he’s likely to be facing criminal charges for fraud. He’s lucky you’ve not reported him already TBH.

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:09

MongoosePerfume · 03/08/2026 09:59

Don’t remortgage with him - that is madness at this stage. You really need to cosnider divorce here.

id be thinking he has a gambling addiction with those sums.

hes still lying to you - he’s not being transparent where it’s been spent. This level of deception is horrific.

can you talk to friends about this? You need support and fast.

he is short changing yours and your children’s future.

I wanted to remortgage to get back what he had stolen...but doing that clears him of his direct debts and gives 'us' more risk. I just don't know which direction to take to clear up the mess. The relationship is toxic and dead but I need the finances sorted.

OP posts:
backformoreofthesame · 03/08/2026 10:12

Talk to a solicitor about the financial mess

it May not be good news for you but at least you will know where you stand

getting out now is crucial because the longer you are together the worse things will get no matter what he promises

Ohnobackagain · 03/08/2026 10:13

I hope you are not thinking about agreeing to the shared bank account @Yazmine2000

backformoreofthesame · 03/08/2026 10:16

the fact that he used a shared email address to falsely sign you up to stuff could count in your favor IF you have evidence -

perhaps write him an email - “just to clarify … is this everything “ becuase if he admits to the fraud ( by replying yes ) then you may be hammered less by the split

and once you have that - send it to the bank that gave him money on the basis of you agreeing also

littlemousebigcheese · 03/08/2026 10:17

Can he get better? Are you serious? No he can’t. No he won’t.
he has lied and broken the law by forging your consent, he has stolen from you. This is so shocking I almost want to believe it’s made up. Please, please leave this man. He will cry and manipulate you into staying because that’s clearly who he is but you deserve better. I’d call the bloody police tbh. What has he spent the money on?!

MongoosePerfume · 03/08/2026 10:24

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:09

I wanted to remortgage to get back what he had stolen...but doing that clears him of his direct debts and gives 'us' more risk. I just don't know which direction to take to clear up the mess. The relationship is toxic and dead but I need the finances sorted.

Yes and it ties you to the house for longer. Please take a pause, get proper advice. You are at risk of making things harder for yourself.

you say the relationship if toxic and dead. Do not remortgage with him.

backformoreofthesame · 03/08/2026 10:26

He says he loves you but in fact he is abusing your love

you deserve someone better - someone with basic honesty and decency and you won’t find that person until you are free again

Yetone · 03/08/2026 10:28

OP, you need to see a solicitor fast. He cannot take money out of a joint home without your consent. He will have had to falsify your signature. The longer you leave it, the worse it will get. Act now.
He has either got a gambling/drug habit or another woman. As soon as you divorce you can start rebuilding your life.

Tel12 · 03/08/2026 10:29

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:09

I wanted to remortgage to get back what he had stolen...but doing that clears him of his direct debts and gives 'us' more risk. I just don't know which direction to take to clear up the mess. The relationship is toxic and dead but I need the finances sorted.

Get some good legal advice before you do anything.

MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 10:38

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:09

I wanted to remortgage to get back what he had stolen...but doing that clears him of his direct debts and gives 'us' more risk. I just don't know which direction to take to clear up the mess. The relationship is toxic and dead but I need the finances sorted.

Before you consider remortgaging you need to know the full extent of his debts. He has lied to you this far and there is a possibility there is more to come.

Remortgaging before you know the full picture could expose you to more debt. Only remortgage if it is in your financial interests and only a solicitor can tell you that.

It has come to the point where you have to take back your own financial control because this will destroy if you don’t. Forget about whether he will change. The situation is far more serious than his flaws.

Please get legal advice. List of crimes

  • Deception
  • Falsifying documents
  • Theft
  • Identify fraud

You say he has expensive tastes, £90k+? Ouch!

sesquipedalian · 03/08/2026 10:44

OP, he’s absolutely not going to change and he will drag you down with him. What the blazes has he done with £30,000 on false bills, £45,000 on credit cards and £90,000 on falsely obtained equity? Anything you have he will steal and squander - if you want any sort of life for yourself and your DC without having to worry all the time about the extent of the financial mess you’re getting dragged into, get out now.

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:47

MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 10:38

Before you consider remortgaging you need to know the full extent of his debts. He has lied to you this far and there is a possibility there is more to come.

Remortgaging before you know the full picture could expose you to more debt. Only remortgage if it is in your financial interests and only a solicitor can tell you that.

It has come to the point where you have to take back your own financial control because this will destroy if you don’t. Forget about whether he will change. The situation is far more serious than his flaws.

Please get legal advice. List of crimes

  • Deception
  • Falsifying documents
  • Theft
  • Identify fraud

You say he has expensive tastes, £90k+? Ouch!

Thank you for your response. I'm here budgeting at Lidl each week for family shopping and he is spending like a king. I'm actually confused by all of this and waking up to this sad reality of my life.

OP posts:
Clarabell77 · 03/08/2026 10:49

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:14

The kids are young, all under 10. He says he is working on changing, but I've been in an emotionally void marriage for a while. At this point, I just want peace.

An emotionally void marriage with this on top, of course you’re not being unreasonable.

Maybe I watch too many true crime documentaries but when there’s financial deceit and desperation for money it often leads to much worse, it shows something quite sinister about someone’s character for me.

Blueberrybonanza · 03/08/2026 10:49

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:09

I wanted to remortgage to get back what he had stolen...but doing that clears him of his direct debts and gives 'us' more risk. I just don't know which direction to take to clear up the mess. The relationship is toxic and dead but I need the finances sorted.

Your first port of call is a solicitor then likely the criminal route as once you present the evidence it is likely the bank will prosecute even if you don't want to.
You need to start extricating yourself and the children from his financial mess and criminal activity and before all your money (and family money) is gone

BlueFahrenheit · 03/08/2026 10:49

You're married to a thief.

I would leave.

GrottBaggs · 03/08/2026 10:49

You need a Forensic Accountant. If this is what he has admitted to there is bound to be more.

Ginmonkeyagain · 03/08/2026 10:55

Gambling - it will be gambling. When people have large amounts of debt with seemingly nothing to show for it - it is generally a gambling addiction.

OP - he isn't just bad with money - he has defrauded you. He is a criminal.

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:57

GrottBaggs · 03/08/2026 10:49

You need a Forensic Accountant. If this is what he has admitted to there is bound to be more.

My heart cannot take this. I feel that there will be implications for both of us and it's really not fair. Thank you.

OP posts:
MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 10:57

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:47

Thank you for your response. I'm here budgeting at Lidl each week for family shopping and he is spending like a king. I'm actually confused by all of this and waking up to this sad reality of my life.

It is a very sad reality and I feel for you hugely.

Imagine a couple of years on from now, by doing something now you could have the peace you want. If you don’t a couple of years from now will be the same.

Take one small step, make a call to a solicitor
today. Put your marriage aside for now and make that call.

You have put it out there to MN, now say exactly what you have said to us to a solicitor. Go ahead, do it xx

Ginmonkeyagain · 03/08/2026 11:01

Mate, you have to report this and investigate it - he stole £120k from you and racked up £45k's worth of credit card debt. That is not someone who is just "struggling financially".

Whatever he is spending the money on, it isn't just expensive meals out and designer head gear - something very very bad is happening here and it will only drag you down further and further until you have nothing.

JustAnotherWhinger · 03/08/2026 11:04

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:57

My heart cannot take this. I feel that there will be implications for both of us and it's really not fair. Thank you.

There are already implications for you both.

the longer you stay the more he will steal, hide, and tangle you in.

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 11:13

MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 10:57

It is a very sad reality and I feel for you hugely.

Imagine a couple of years on from now, by doing something now you could have the peace you want. If you don’t a couple of years from now will be the same.

Take one small step, make a call to a solicitor
today. Put your marriage aside for now and make that call.

You have put it out there to MN, now say exactly what you have said to us to a solicitor. Go ahead, do it xx

Thank you, Im on it now....feeling sick doing so but it cannot be delayed.

OP posts:
MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 11:16

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 11:13

Thank you, Im on it now....feeling sick doing so but it cannot be delayed.

Yes! We are cheering for you! Be strong x

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