Our marriage finished years ago but we stayed together as a lot of people do. I was always the initiator in the relationship and to be honest I was exhausted and stressed with the lack of finances, he never earned more than £10,000 a year at best, it was a constant struggle. I got really fed up and realised that I had to make a real future for myself having supported him in his failing business for years. We have a daughter who is now 17.
I left the jointly owned home, got a bedsit and did a degree for three years an hours drive away so I could see my daughter easily. In the second year of my course the divorce went through. In my third year I was diagnosed with breast cancer, had two lots of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and managed to do half my degree and deferred my thesis, I had nobody to look after me it was awful. When uni ended and went into the summer break I moved down into the jointly owned marital home and ex-husband agreed to move out. I wanted to be with my daughter and I needed to recover. I have been left with, the mortgage to pay etc. I do not have enough and it takes 13 weeks to get interest paid on benefits. My savings are nearly depleted. I just want to cry, he's offering no financial help and he probably can't. I had to re-decorate the flat because it hadn't been done since I left to study and he offered me £10 to cover paint costs.
He wants to sell, obviously as he needs the money. Our daughter is not yet 18 and I certainly don't want to be put in a position that I have to chuck her out when she is. I have been to a solicitor and she said I would get 50/50 but that is no good to me as I need to provide a home for my daughter and surely after the sale my benefits would stop and I would have to spend my share on rent for us both to have a roof over our heads! I do not think this is fair.
Can someone tell me what options I have, or whether they think I?m being fair?