Controlling Husband has seen solicitor re house sale.

[freedomfromdat]

I left him several months ago. We are both retired.
Told him to sell house as I wasn't going back.
So far he's agreed to get valuations but house still not up for sale.
I am meanwhile effectively homeless and he is living in a four bed two bath house alone.
He says he's seen a solicitor with an offer for me. But solicitor has now gone on leave so no letter so far.
At this point I should point out he is a compulsive liar.
IF there is an offer what should I expect? We own the house outright and there are no children involved
I'm guessing it will not be a 50/50 split. There are also some expensive assets and he has a pension (I don't)
I suspect this is going to be a very expensive and drawn out business which will end up in court.
I'm pretty sure I will be awarded 50% of everything eventually anyway and I am flexible.
What I'm asking is what can I expect from the initial solicitors letter, given that he is a childish and spiteful man and has probably spun a web of lies?
Also do I need a solicitor of my own or can I reply to official letter myself?

I’d get legal advice pronto

So would I

Get your own solicitor and start divorce proceedings. He has zero reason why he would sell up and move on at present as he is living there and has a pension to fund himself living there.

Where are you currently living as I assume you are actually living somewhere?

Have you put a divorce in motion? I'd get that started and then see a family lawyer about the financial arrangements. You'd want a legal charge put on the deeds so he cannot sell the property without your consent, which they can arrange. I'm pretty sure he'd have to sell the property in the end but you may need a court order to get him out.

You can arrange the initial divorce papers on line. It costs around £550.

No-one can tell what would be in the initial letter.

There is no legal reason why you need a solicitor to reply to a solicitor's letter. However, I would strongly recommend seeing a solicitor and starting the process of getting a divorce.

You need your own solicitor, ideally one who understands abusive controlling relationships, who can fight your corner for you.

Thanks everyone. I have recently started to get my state pension. He does too but also has a private one.
I'm staying with family and under no pressure to leave but it's not ideal.
He has threatened to 'drag this out for years' which is pathetic and will cost us both a fortune.
I know the solicitor thing will mean that everything will take forever anyway. Frankly I'm just too bloody old for this game playing!!!
Could I go straight to court to bypass all this ? If so does anyone know how I'd go about it and how much it would cost?

You need your own solicitor and to start divorce proceedings yourself.
Check with Womens Aid as you may be eligible for shelter and legal aid as you have left domestic abuse (coercive and controlling behaviour is a form of domestic abuse).

Speak to your own solicitor, some offer free basic advice, then you can decide how to proceed. Ask about forced sale, percentages, savings and splitting his pension as it all varies on how long you were married, any children etc. Its an no fault divorce now so he can't stop you.

There is nothing to stop you divorcing him. Now that we have no-fault divorce, he can't stop you.

Similarly, there is nothing to stop you asking for the finances to be resolved alongside the divorce. It will take longer and cost more if the courts have to decide the finances rather than you agreeing between you. Consult a solicitor to get some idea of the likely cost.

Even simple divorces once one party starts being troublesome it's worth getting your own solicitor. This sounds very similar to my friend's situation. She got the house and some of his pension but not as much as she could have had because she wanted the house.

You divorce him, when you go to mediation explain how he has been abusive and controlling towards you then you will be signed over to go straight to court.

Divorce him. Expect 50/50. Including 50/50 of his pension.

Stop being passive. You need to do this. Get a solicitor and get a divorce. Make sure you are laser focussed on getting what you want. He is not going to help, why would he?