We’ve been married 19 months, this year we lost a baby and now, 3 months after that, he wants to split. I presume this will lead to divorce and desperately need help:
We have no shared children, but each have two young children from previous (ages 5-12)
House - bought for £375k in his sole name brought since we got together and he put £100k in, but I pay half of all the mortgage and we did substantial renovation which cost £60k, of which I paid slightly over half. Now worth IRO £410k
I rented here with my two children (6 & 12) for a year before we got together, I desperately want to keep it, but my credit is way too bad to have any mortgage, let alone one that big. Whilst he also has children, he wants to move as currently commutes them to their school 12 miles away, whereas mine are at local school and have known this as their family home for 5 years
I think I need to register matrimonial home rights
Business - we both own our own businesses, I’m a tutor, so mine has no property, assets or value, my earnings are around £40k. My 25 year old son is co-director.
Soon to be ex’s business has a turnover of £800k, and assets of around £200k (includes his business property) he pays himself £70k per year and has an extre £20k or so at end of year. He is currently sole director. He’s had this business for 20 years, so there’s a school of thought that it is outside of any calculation, however, he had a cash flow issue this year, I gave him £10k to pay his suppliers, so am assuming this will confer rights (he’s never paid it back)
I have another house, worth £110k, no mortgage, which I am going to sell (not sure when to do this - immediate or wait). I have debts of £25k from before we got together
Bank balance - mine fluctuates, so basically £5k, he has around £30k in bank, and £30k in assets but can move it to work account and look broke of course
Lastly, do I contest divorce? He has “feelings for his ex 🙄”, but hasn’t cheated (I believe that, I’ve seen the messages between them).