Hi....any advice or help greatly appreciated please. (I posted in divorce/separation and someone suggested I post here too).
My husband is saying the following re our finances (matters are with solicitors, and we have exchanged form Es).
He says that I never wanted nor asked about a pension so why should I be entitled to half of his sizeable pension now. I have never mentioned or asked about it because I knew it was there, and I just trusted and left him to deal with it. He has always dealt with all our finances.
He says that I never worked despite his insistence that I do something. This is just untrue. In fact, on the contrary, I used to say that he worked such long hours, if he could work locally and take a pay cut, I would also work, so we could spend more time together, and as a family. His long working hours contributed to the marriage breakdown.
He seems to be contradicting himself, he said that my 4x4 is now too big for me, and he has a VW polo which is sufficient for him and our children, and I should change my car. I would actually like to change it for something smaller anyway, but on the form E he wrote that his car is too small for use as a family car and he will need to change this!
He says that when we got married (20 yrs ago), I brought nothing to the marriage, and just moved in to his fully furnished flat, and this should count for something.
He is a very high earner, and IF I were to receive around 50% of our assets and his income as maintenance I would be able to live comfortably.
I am planning on setting up as an alternative therapist at home, (I have been training for the last couple of years), and he is saying that I should be seeking part time work elsewhere as well whilst I build my income. My solicitor advises that there is sufficient money already, and that I do not need to do that as he can afford for me not to. It is very confusing?
She says that I am clearly entitled to half of everything following a long term marriage, and sufficient finances, yet understandably he is fighting on every point. I don't know if she is just trying to 'keep her client happy'?
Any advice greatly appreciated please. I am not meaning to come across as money grabbing, I would just like to know where I stand and what I can expect. I gave up a career to be at home with the children, which was a choice we made jointly.
Thank you.
Jen x