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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

What do I do first?

4 replies

Raroge14 · 09/02/2025 23:15

I'm seriously considering leaving my husband, I have a spreadsheet together of financials, but realistically I don't know where to start. Do I get myself a place first, then tell him/go? Do I tell him I'm leaving him, then get myself a place (and potentially leaving myself and my children (5m & 2f) homeless). When do I put submit a claim for child support and benefits? Bearing in mind I would also be leaving penniless. I'm really not sure which way around would be best 🤦🏽‍♀️ and also is there anything else I need to know/think about/prepare for?

OP posts:
Galectable · 10/02/2025 00:09

Best to talk to a lawyer. Ideally you and the children should stay in the house and he should move out. A lawyer will explain your options. Be very careful if he is in any way prone to violence.

Walesmam23 · 10/02/2025 00:15

It’s a difficult one when you’ve made the choice to end things but no idea where to turn, and I can only speak from my own experience but it might help. Exh and I split around 18 months ago but I’d already looked into how much support I could get financially, as I had no idea how I’d cope with three children and a PT job. I used turn2us calculator to get an idea and then once I had this and we’d split I put in a claim for universal credit straightaway as it can take weeks to process.

I expected to have to move but ex decided to move out as he wanted a fresh start. I have since moved anyway as our home was unaffordable but we rented which made things easier. Are you able to stay in your home? In terms of maintenance this is payable by whoever has the children less from the time you are living separately - the CMS calculator can give you an idea of your entitlement if you haven’t already looked.

It took a few months to get the actual divorce started due to cost, and we’re still going through the financials 12 months down the line. It’s hard to give much advice as i don’t know your circumstances but I’d say the big thing is to try to remain amicable and pick your battles. A lot of people end up hyper focused on small things and arguing over details which in the long run don’t really matter. I’m sure it goes without saying but always put your kids feelings first and try not to let hurt or grief guide your decisions.

I hope it all goes as well as it can for you x

Raroge14 · 10/02/2025 00:20

Thank you for your advice, ideally I should stay in the house with the children but unfortunately I'm expecting the news to go down badly and my husband to become unreasonable, to a point that he will try and make me leave without the children, without any of our joint money or belongings. I'm essentially expecting to leave I'm a taxi with what ever I managed to sneak into a couple of bags - hoping that the 2 year old actually walks ofc. He isn't prone to physically violence but the emotional/angry out bursts are why I'm leaving.

OP posts:
itsallsohard · 10/02/2025 01:12

Hmm. Okay, sounds like you need to consult a divorce lawyer well before you talk to your H, but also, as some really simple practical matters, plan for the first day or two if you have to flee as you describe. Beyond the first day or two the law should swing in behind you and keep you in the home (but see what solicitor says). And meanwhile:

can you move some money to where you can access it without his cooperation for immediate expenses? create a new account and siphon some money off -- be clear, not to hide it from the courts forever, just to have cashflow for the first few days, at least for a hotel room, at best for a deposit on a rental. (Though I agree with PP: the law will, I'd guess, hold that you and DC should stay in the house pending any sale.)

Financials are of course the most important, as well as papers if DC have passports, if you have important papers, put them with a friend or relation. (I have done this for a friend in crisis.) Make sure you have evidence scans, photocopies, phone photos at least -- of any crucial evidence of his income and assets if you can; also, photograph important items you can't easily move out in advance: the painting of your grandmother or whatever? Indeed, if you have time, put your phone on video and move through the house conducting a basic inventory of what's there. It will help you remember what to retrieve, or provide some level of proof of your standard of living. Think as if you were doing an inventory for insurance, but without the faff of all the paperwork.

likewise, plan out the moment you tell him, too. Ideally you'd do it while DC are NOT there (with family or friends or at nursery) but also have witnesses physically there so his "outbursts" are either contained or at least witnessed -- again, parents, friends, worse comes to worst a public restaurant or even a park?

and, just in case as you say you do have to flee, have your car key in your pocket and last-minute necessities in the car ready so you can just get in with DC and NOT have to carry luggage. I'm thinking things like their stuffies or favourite jammies or whatever comforts them in a time of stress. (Don't forget whatever you need in a time of deep stress.)

All this may be overkill. But if he's reasonable, then it won't matter if you over prepare. If he's not, best be ready to flee, as you put it.

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