How do I leave?

[Vnessy]

Long story short, I'm considering leaving my husband due to his alcohol issues. I have waited around and supported him for 10 years and it's only getting worse. He's angry constantly, myself and our children are always treading on eggshells around him and I can't do it anymore. He's a good guy deep down which is why I've waited so long, but I don't want this life, it isn't working and isn't fair on the kids either.
The problem is that I'm completely dependent on him, I haven't worked since having our first child 5 years ago. He pays for everything, I have zero income as a stay at home mum. Everything we have he owns.
How do I get out of this? I have no idea where to start.

I recommend you look on the Alcohol support threads- there's a lot of good information on there for people with partners who are dependent on alcohol. Having been in a similar place, I started with Al Anon and Smart Recovery friends and family online meetings, which helped me get the courage and certainty to end the marriage. One thing I learned from those groups is to be open with family/friends- stop protecting the alcoholic by pretending everything is fine. You didn't cause it, you can't stop it, you can't control it. I'm sorry you're in this position

Do you have your own bank account ? Get the child benefit paid into it.
Start saving up Boots/Tesco/Sainsbury’s points.
Then ring around for a free first chat with a family solicitor, he doesn’t need to know.

Talk to a lawyer first

What job did you have 5 years ago? Can you get back to it? Does he have a good pension you can half the value.

You need to understand the pot of assets available to split and work out what you could be entitled to in a fair split if those.

you’ve only been out of workplace 5 years - no reason why you can’t return

look at what entitlements to cms and other benefits you could get

Ultimately you need to return to work

Everyone here has some really good advice. Definitely use it all. See if this can help you too - https://iamlip.com/help-guides/the-court-process-of-dividing-your-marital-assets-finances-and-pensions/
It might make your life a little easier, especially if you don't have the funds for a solicitor right now. Even if you're a stay-at-home wife, the courts will most likely still divide it fairly as your contribution to the home helped accumulate the money made during your marriage.
Anyway I hope those help guides can help make your life easier in terms of what to do https://www.iamlip.com/