Questions to ask in a free Initial consultation

[Canyoucheckonme]

What would you recommend I ask? Married for over ten years. Two children. He's a higher earner, I'm on min wage working school hours term-time (a pittance, basically). He has lots of savings in his name only (I have none), and three private pensions (I have a very small company pension).

Joint names on mortgage.

Considering splitting as grown apart and very unhappy. But I'm worried I can't afford to live in a nice house and have a decent standard of living if we divorce. I'd probably get the kids most of the time as he has a demanding job with European travel. So guessing I'd get more than 50:50.

Any ideas on where to start when I go for my free consultation with a family solicitor soon please? Want to make the most of the time. Thanks.

Take as much information regarding finances that you have, wages, house equity, savings, investments, pensions and details of both of you and your kids and the marriage and previous cohabitation.

Then when they give you an idea what a split may look like financially you can decide if a "nice house" is achievable. They aren't going to give advice on what you want but what you may be able to agree with the other parent that the courts would sign off

Divorce is based on needs not wants and available assets
tiu won’t get 100%

hiusing children will take priority but that will be not necessarily be in your current house or even in a Nice house’

as pp take as much as you know in way of earnings, pensions, house value, equity

They will only be able to give you high level points and a guide

Have a read through the Advice Now guides that are pinned to the top of the page. This will give you some ideas. Have a read of the one on finances in particular, it has some scenarios which might help. Everything pretty much goes in to the pot (unless specifically ring-fenced) so it doesn't matter that the pensions and savings are in his name. You could get a higher percentage of the split as your needs are greater and particularly if you have the children for a greater share of the time.

But I'm worried I can't afford to live in a nice house and have a decent standard of living if we divorce

Very very few people are able to maintain the standard of living when divorced as they had when married. So you need to come to terms with that early on. At the end of the day you are going from two incomes to one.

You may get 50/50 of the assets you may get a little more no one can really say as it's very personal and specific. Even if you get a share of pension you realise you don't actually get the money until you retire? Unless he gives you a lump sum in lieu

you are on min wage, why do you expect to live in a nice house with a decent standard of living.
Most people dont have such an easy life, we are in a cost of living crisis.
You will need to start earning your own money to have that nice life.

Thanks to the majority of the posters for all the helpful advice and taking the time to reply. The appointment went well and I have a clearer picture now.

Amazed someone can surmise about how much of an "easy life" I've had from a single post.