I'm hoping that somebody with a legal background can give me some advice to pass on to my cousin who is currently going through a divorce.
The backstory is that her husband left her last year after admitting to a relationship/affair with a colleague, which is still ongoing. He is a very well paid professional. My cousin did have a career but gave it up after having her second child who is 7 years old and profoundly disabled, requiring constant care and supervision, so she's been a full time carer ever since. The only income she receives is carers benefits etc, but she still contributed towards the mortgage even out of this small income.
She is still living in the family home with her two children, the ex is currently flitting between his girlfriend's house and a rented flat.
She has now been told that he is demanding she pay him a large lump sum to "buy" him out of the house, and if she doesn't stump it up, he will force the sale of the family home in order to get it.
She is desperately worried about this because a) the home is adapted for their special needs child, and b) she has no income to speak of so can't afford to either buy him out of the home or buy another house!
I think the proposals are due to be discussed in court soon, but I just wanted to try and reassure her if possible, that the ex can't force this can he? How can she be expected to stump up thousands of pounds to pay him off when she gave up her career to care for a special needs child, and how can he expect them to move from a house that is physically adapted for that child.
Any legal input would be very gratefully received!