Money advice during seperation

[knittingfornancie]

Sorry about the rabble but I’m looking for some advice.

My husband has left me and moved back with his parents after almost 10 years of marriage. We’ve got a 3 year old little girl. He’s the breadwinner and I really don’t know what I’m entitled to.

He earns around £45k, while I earn around £25k. We’ve always had our own separate account and various bills have been set up to come out of each of our accounts (just what was convenient at the time). Out of his account we paid for the mortgage, council tax, water and nursery fees (although we won’t have to pay nursery fees moving forwards due to the 30 hours free). Out of my account we pay for the other utilities, groceries and house insurance.

While he’s currently happy to continue paying the bills that he’s paying, I’m really worried about what my future looks like financially. If we keep things as they are, will I end up owing him money when we get divorced? My friends tell me that I should expect him to pay maintenance, but I’m not sure that this would be the case given that the mortgage is coming from his account.

Can anyone advise?

Maintenance is old fashioned and hardly happens anymore. You need a solicitor really but if he is named on the mortgage or rent he should be paying half that plus any other bills in his name utilities, council tax etc. if he's not having the children half the time there will be an element if child support. You can get single person allowance for council tax, and check what benefits you can claim.

What do you think your arrangements will be for your daughter - will she be 50:50 between you or will one of you have her more than the other?
What equity do you have in your home, and what’s its value?

It doesn't matter which account bills are paid from.

If you are married then you are both deemed to be paying them.

In the event of a divorce then clean break settlements are in favour.

This means that the assets of the marriage (usually house and pension(s) are split between both people. Usual starting point is 50:50 but the needs of the child are important - they need to be housed.

Spousal maintenance (where he pays a regular amount to you) is very unusual these days.

He will he expected to pay Child maintenance yes but not spousal maintenance.

This is a bit old fashioned too. If he isn't living in the property, he should be paying child maintenance. The person living in the property should have all their bills transferred into their name and pay the full mortgage.

This is the advice he would be given.