Husband left - financial advice

[balia]

My friend's husband has walked out on her and their two children. It was quite recent and out of the blue so she has a lot to cope with. She has made an appointment with a solicitor for next week, but is very worried about money. She has paid the larger share of the mortgage and bills for the whole of their 15+ year marriage, because historically she earned more than him, but this has not been the case for 4 years. But is it now 50/50 split? The DC's are very young, preschool age.

He has said he won't be paying maintenance because he will continue to pay towards the bills as he used to (including towards the mortgage but he pays just over half of what my friend pays towards it, and anyway now seems to be backing away from that and won't discuss the situation at all.

Can anyone kindly give any indication of the legal position?

TIA

(Have to post and run but will check back later)

Sounds awful and stressful, but your friend needs to get proper legal advice because the situation is just not simple when children, property and marriage are involved. It takes someone properly trained to look at all the factors involved and give sound advice. Who paid what towards to mortgage in a long marriage probably wont have much influence tbh. She is doing the right thing in staying in the house, but she needs urgent advice. Resolution is a Website/organisation that can help resolution

Thank you, have pointed her at that link. She will get legal advice next week, she just is scared in the meantime as he has told her to give him meter readings for the utilities so may not be intending to continue to contribute to the household.

Tell her to look at the CSA website for the child maintenance - basically 20% of his net income less deductions for overnight contact. There may be some short term top up maintenance (especially if household financial commitments have been assumed on the basis of 2 incomes coming in to the household). She's getting some legal advice, so that's the main thing.