I’m looking for some guidance/information on spousal maintenance due to differences in income as it’s difficult to find relatable examples for my situation.
Im in the very sad position of wanting to end my 15yr marriage.
So, the situation - married 15yrs, together 16. No children, H52 W48. Both came into the marriage with very little, just enough for shared deposit on a home. Joint finances but with personal expenses of £100 kept each week in own accounts.
H - established career and public sector pension 10yrs pre relationship.
W gained a degree pre relationship and just starting new career with NHS pension.
Over the course of the marriage W climbs the promotion ladder, gains further qualifications and income increases exceeding H’s within the first few years.
H choose not to progress their career.
The final few years H takes a job involving a move away resulting in W having to leave her public sector job and pension and take interim work. This gives a higher gross wage but doesn’t provide sick leave cover other than SSP and net wage is inclusive of annual leave. employee/employer pension contribution reduces from 32% to basic minimum 8%. Finances continue to be shared throughout the marriage regardless of individual income with both only keeping the minimum per week.
Home in joint names, deposit paid with equity from previous sale and some used for renovations but topped up using joint finances to complete.
W contributing nearly 50% more financially each month and mortgage overpayments are made from joint finances at the behest of H.
When we split if we submit a consent order detailing individual income and expenditure it just looks like I earn 50% more. There is £200,000 equity in the house which would be split 50/50 allowing both to buy again with a good sized deposit. Although his wage is not as good it’s still enough for him to manage well (c£2000pm take home) and neither have excessive lifestyles. My work is not secure, is 3 month contracts with no guarantee of extension or work when it ends. I have no fall back for long term illness and do have long term health conditions although currently well managed. My pension has suffered as a result of interim work while his job and pension and t’s & C’s have remained stable throughout.
I may need to look at buying him out and taking on the mortgage (possible but a stretch) as have an elderly relative at home. I would also have to take over payment of a finance agreement and all other current bills etc.
My question is would I end up having to pay him spousal maintenance just because his income is less than mine? Even though he made the choice not to progress his career, has put much less in financially and in terms of increasing each of our properties values and generally into the relationship but still gained significantly due to our joint financial arrangement? I know it’s about law and not morality etc but this would feel so unfair and unjust in light of what each has actually contributed to the relationship.