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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:
Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 15:43

LakieLady · 03/08/2026 15:26

If he's addicted to gambling, as several of us on here suspect, it is an addiction just as much as an addiction to alcohol or heroin.

A former addict who was once a client of mine likened his substance addiction to being possessed by demons. By this, he meant that it takes over all the control, restraint and judgment that you have. Everything else takes second place to appeasing those "demons", which can only be done by getting more of whatever you're addicted to.

I shared this (anonymously, of course) with a client battling gambling addiction and they agreed that this was a very accurate metaphor. It's entirely possible that this spending was not an altogether conscious choice. If it turns out that this is the underlying issue, you may find Gam-Anon, who help the families of gambling addicts, a good source of support.

Thank you, he says it's not gambling, but I will look out for it. He says he will show me his statements tonight. I just think that for someone who wants to do right he is dragging his heels.

He also says it was never about me, just trying to live up to expected standards. Just for the record, I've never expected him to match any standards, I've always been taught to be humble regardless of what you have.
He seems to think therapy will help him. At this point, I've little faith.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 03/08/2026 15:44

Timeforanothernamechange3 · 03/08/2026 15:33

This is criminal behaviour.

You are absolutely right! Just because it's happened between a husband and wife doesn't mean it's any less of a crime.

@Yazmine2000 You should consider reporting him to the police. It may strengthen any case you have wrt any money he owes you after falsifying your signature and if your credit report has been affected.

Another thing to discuss with a solicitor.

backformoreofthesame · 03/08/2026 15:44

He may need therapy

it will likely be more effective after you have left him

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 15:46

Lavender14 · 03/08/2026 14:22

Could he have other secret accounts op? That he's transferring into? How far back do the statements you've seen go and are you sure they're legit?

If he does, it will show up on his bank statements. I'll be looking from 2020 up to 2026 if he allows me. He has only shown me his credit card statements thus far.

OP posts:
DIKnowitall · 03/08/2026 15:48

Op, I am so sorry. Your husband has committed a crimal offence against you, please contact Rights of Women and or Survivors Of Economic Abuse for specialist advice. You need a solicitor specialist in economic abuse for your divorce. As a PP said, divorce is the only way to remove your joint financial liability. I wish you peace

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 15:50

AcrossthePond55 · 03/08/2026 15:44

You are absolutely right! Just because it's happened between a husband and wife doesn't mean it's any less of a crime.

@Yazmine2000 You should consider reporting him to the police. It may strengthen any case you have wrt any money he owes you after falsifying your signature and if your credit report has been affected.

Another thing to discuss with a solicitor.

The sad thing is, I am not even sure if I signed certain things. I know he has forged my signature in the past and it was over something so silly. Guess that should have been my red flag all those years ago.😞

OP posts:
Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 16:01

DIKnowitall · 03/08/2026 15:48

Op, I am so sorry. Your husband has committed a crimal offence against you, please contact Rights of Women and or Survivors Of Economic Abuse for specialist advice. You need a solicitor specialist in economic abuse for your divorce. As a PP said, divorce is the only way to remove your joint financial liability. I wish you peace

Thank you, I will look into these

OP posts:
disturbia · 03/08/2026 16:12

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.

How exactly is he working on changing? Time to end this marriage before you end up without anything. I divorced my husband for unreasonable behaviour and financial irresponsibility when the children were very small. If I hadn't we would be living in a tent by now because he continued to tell lies and get into debt over and over again.

AcrossthePond55 · 03/08/2026 19:32

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 15:50

The sad thing is, I am not even sure if I signed certain things. I know he has forged my signature in the past and it was over something so silly. Guess that should have been my red flag all those years ago.😞

Well, you can always tell the police that you aren't sure what you signed and what you didn't.

But perhaps first you need to speak to a solicitor and lay it all out for them including your doubts about what you did or didn't sign.

And please listen....don't kick yourself in the bum for what you did or didn't do or what red flags you did or didn't see. There's no point in looking back now, it'll only drag you down. Look forward, to what you can do NOW to steer your own little boat back on course.

maxslice · 03/08/2026 19:36

I have been in a similar, though not as dire, situation. No, he will not change.

BlondeFool · 03/08/2026 19:36

He’s a lying, gaslighting fraudster. Unbelievably dishonest. I’d think about the police involved as he’s a thief. I bet this is the tip of the iceberg.

Lavender14 · 03/08/2026 19:56

LakieLady · 03/08/2026 15:26

If he's addicted to gambling, as several of us on here suspect, it is an addiction just as much as an addiction to alcohol or heroin.

A former addict who was once a client of mine likened his substance addiction to being possessed by demons. By this, he meant that it takes over all the control, restraint and judgment that you have. Everything else takes second place to appeasing those "demons", which can only be done by getting more of whatever you're addicted to.

I shared this (anonymously, of course) with a client battling gambling addiction and they agreed that this was a very accurate metaphor. It's entirely possible that this spending was not an altogether conscious choice. If it turns out that this is the underlying issue, you may find Gam-Anon, who help the families of gambling addicts, a good source of support.

While I do agree in part with this, having worked with addiction in the past. What I would also say op is that the WHY can come later. That's processing to do further down the line. You do not owe him sticking around to try and fix this. Yes if he has a gambling addiction that may have influenced his choices. But they were still his choices and he also chose not to own up and seek help when he realised he was struggling and in too deep.

The lithe side to this is that if you know he's committed crimes and you are in any way implicated either by him forging your signature or you knowing and not reporting then you need to get clarity from a solicitor on where you stand on this.

Most people are fundamentally logical and there will be a reason why he's done what he's done, but it doesn't change the impact on you, your kids and the gravity of what he's done. Even if this is addiction related you are still allowed to walk away with your head held high in order to protect yourself and your kids.

PurpleCoo · 03/08/2026 20:17

Not only would I be filing for divorce, I would be contacting the police. This is a crime.

I am so sorry you have experienced this, this is shocking abuse that you have been subjected to. This isn't just effecting you, it will effect your children and is just so much money. Such betrayal as well.

I hope that you can protect yourself from liability from his fraud, debts and crimes. He should be accountable for those himself. Please get yourself a good lawyer.

It's reading things like this that make me wonder why anyone ever gets married or tangles their finances up with someone else! I can't afford as much standing on my own two feet but at least what I have is mine and is safe.

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 20:50

disturbia · 03/08/2026 16:12

How exactly is he working on changing? Time to end this marriage before you end up without anything. I divorced my husband for unreasonable behaviour and financial irresponsibility when the children were very small. If I hadn't we would be living in a tent by now because he continued to tell lies and get into debt over and over again.

Has he changed after losing his family?

He thinks therapy will help and the fact that he has been exposed. ...time will tell but I'm not hanging around to wait for that.

OP posts:
MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 20:57

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 20:50

Has he changed after losing his family?

He thinks therapy will help and the fact that he has been exposed. ...time will tell but I'm not hanging around to wait for that.

No, don’t hang around. You go your way, to peace and extricating yourself from his criminality and he goes his way, to change, on his own, because he wants it, not because he wants to save his marriage.

Is he up to it?

Ohnobackagain · 03/08/2026 20:59

If you open a joint account @Yazmine2000 he could just clear it

Yazmine2000 · 04/08/2026 00:09

MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 20:57

No, don’t hang around. You go your way, to peace and extricating yourself from his criminality and he goes his way, to change, on his own, because he wants it, not because he wants to save his marriage.

Is he up to it?

No idea. I don't know who he is.....

OP posts:
Two2TooAlsoToToward · 04/08/2026 00:48

This man will drag you down. You need to think about your retirement, and think about how many working years you have left/how much you can build for yourself. Time is if the essence.

caringcarer · 04/08/2026 00:52

He sounds horrendous. He is diminishing your and the DC security. It's time to bin him off. I'd have binned him off a long time ago.

disturbia · 04/08/2026 06:08

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 20:50

Has he changed after losing his family?

He thinks therapy will help and the fact that he has been exposed. ...time will tell but I'm not hanging around to wait for that.

No he is now living in a room in a hostel..he became much worse I think it a mental health issue

Yazmine2000 · 04/08/2026 09:41

disturbia · 04/08/2026 06:08

No he is now living in a room in a hostel..he became much worse I think it a mental health issue

Hmmm, mental health did come up as the possible issue with him. I don't know if it's trauma, seems like his side have a history of alcohol, theft and lies. This came to light many years after marriage. Either way, I cannot save him. I just have to focus on healing myself and taking care of my kids. Thank you for your words, this has really helped me realise how much I am not being unreasonable.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 04/08/2026 14:07

Yazmine2000 · 04/08/2026 09:41

Hmmm, mental health did come up as the possible issue with him. I don't know if it's trauma, seems like his side have a history of alcohol, theft and lies. This came to light many years after marriage. Either way, I cannot save him. I just have to focus on healing myself and taking care of my kids. Thank you for your words, this has really helped me realise how much I am not being unreasonable.

@Yazmine2000

Either way, I cannot save him. I just have to focus on healing myself and taking care of my kids.

No, you can't. My esDH is a severe alcoholic. One of the sayings I've learnt in dealing with him and setting boundaries is "You are not required to set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm".

You are right to put yourself and DC first.

Yazmine2000 · 04/08/2026 14:26

AcrossthePond55 · 04/08/2026 14:07

@Yazmine2000

Either way, I cannot save him. I just have to focus on healing myself and taking care of my kids.

No, you can't. My esDH is a severe alcoholic. One of the sayings I've learnt in dealing with him and setting boundaries is "You are not required to set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm".

You are right to put yourself and DC first.

Wow. A very resonating and profound statement there. Thank you!

OP posts:
HoppityBun · 04/08/2026 14:31

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:48

Thank you. The only thing we have financially tied is the house. I am in the process of making him remortgage the home to pay back the 130k owed. I will also get him to sign and agree that liability so that when the house is sold the money can be taken from his portion. I cannot agree to pay his debts, I dont even know where its all gone!

No! No remortgage! Don’t sign anything. Get to a solicitor sharpish!

motherhoodisntfortheweak · 05/08/2026 08:56

scumming your own family what a dangerous man!!

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