My husband left me and the 2 kids earlier this year and we’re arguing about splitting the finances. When I met him I had a very good job (at 27 years old I earned £34k) but I had to take a £7k paydrop to get a job in his area to move in with him as where he lives is so rural and he wouldn’t move as he has a business here. 2 years later we had our first child and we decided I’d go part time, so I lost another 2/5ths of my income. I took these financial hits alone, and supported myself through both maternity leaves. My decreases in wages obviously also effected my pension, NI contributions, student loan repayments and the redundancy money I got last year. But I did it all for our kids who I love to bits! As well as working part time I did all the housework, childcare, family admin, shopping and so on, so his life and work could remain as unchanged as possible. When we got together his turnover was below £200k, now it’s over £2m. Although he’s worked hard he’s only been able to do that because I’ve been both parents and a house keeper too, as well as helping with his business when needed. Now we’re splitting up though I don’t know what I should be asking for. Both kids are staying living with me, they’re 6 and 8. He currently gives us £1500 for the family and pays me £900 a month through the business. It sounds like a lot but after the mortgage, all the family direct debits and standing orders (inc a joint credit card bill that I pay from when we put a new kitchen on it), it only leaves £241 a month for me and the kids, to cover all food, outings, car stuff, toiletries, cleaning products, school stuff, their clothing, etc without any of my own spending or direct debits too. I’ve not even had my hair done or cut in 5 months as I’m trying to use what we have to keep the kids lifestyle as uneffected as possible. When I lost my job I started my own company and had saved up enough money to see me and my family cost contributions through to when my product launched, but that’s all had to go on solicitors fees now and I can’t launch with no money. I’ve spent all the savings I had on solicitors and living costs for me and the kids so I now have no money, no savings and mounting bills and debts. How much do you think I should ask for in mediation if anyone has any experience of this please? His business is worth around £1-1.5m now (when we got married 4 years ago it was worth £150k), then he also has 3 houses (1 fully paid off (he owned half before then bought the other half while we were married) has 1 half paid off, and he owns the other with me). He earns £100k a year, I currently earn nothing and won’t until the finances are all settled so I can launch my product. We’ve been together 11 years in total, 4 of which were married. I was going to look for a job now but my solicitor advised not to because it would take me away from the kids at a time I need to be around, plus it would mean giving up on my company which I’ve worked hard to establish. It also wouldn’t further my career at all, as jobs here are incredibly limited and I’d need to work from home or just between 9.15-3pm as there’s no school breakfast club and after school club only runs until 5pm so if I worked in one of the nearby towns I’d not get back in time to collect them. So I’ve just stayed working school hours on my company as advised. Any advice would be extremely appreciated. Thank you in advance.