Help with divorce settlement.

[AQuestionAboutSettlement]

I originally posted this in Divorce/Separation but had no replies, thought I might get a better response here.

My stbx and I are currently trying to agree a financial settlement. Due to the abusive nature of the relationship we were advised against mediation so are using solicitors to try and come to an agreement. I made an offer and he disagreed and made a counter offer, this has being going on for months now and costing me a fortune. We finally have something I can live with but there are a couple of minor amendments I want made. My solicitor tells me that she has to draft an entire new proposal and can't just shoot off an email to his solicitor asking if he is prepared to accept the amendments. Can anyone tell me if this is absolutely necessary or if she is taking me for a ride? Thank you.

How minor are the amendments?

He proposes to cut maintenance, we have agreed global maintenance, (30+ years relationship, 20 years married), by half the day our youngest turns 18, I'm asking for it to be kept until she is finished sixth form, as she was a summer baby this is only a couple of extra months. He earns a huge salary so it is a drop in the ocean to him. I had to give up my career due to illness, I now work part time in admin so don't earn a lot. He is insistent that I go back full time and the very fact that he has agreed maintenance is a miracle.

He is also trying to cap what I get from the sale of the house. I get one amount if it sells at a certain price and a different amount if it is lower. So he stands to gain substantially by accepting a lower offer. I want it to be pro- rata'd, in other words I want a fixed percentage of the proceeds but we have a minimum amount in place for me as I have children to house. Hope that makes sense? And actually thinking about it probably not a minor amendment!

CMS runs until September of the final year of 6th form. No matter what you agree, after a year he can revert to CMS rates so that might not be worth spending more money arguing over, particularly as it is only a matter of 2 months.As to the house only you know how much the difference is compared to the extra you are paying your solicitor.