Recently separated but how do I protect myself

[Stressheadmumma]

So we have separated and husband is the higher earner and so worried what I will afford in future. He has full time job where is on pay roll but started a business alongside using our savings. Originally both should have been directors but only out himself down and has done all the work mostly to be fair as he has cut me out. He says I can go down as a director but can he just take me back off as and when he feels like it? He doesn’t want to start taking a salary or money out for another couple of years so how do I protect myself financially given saving tied up in it etc?

Get your money back. If he won’t hand it over, get it included in your divorce settlement. Have you got a solicitor yet?

No I don’t want to instruct someone as only just separated and want to keep costs down. It’s tied up in the business so not sure he can just give it back but I would want to have some of the profits when it is possible and probably would want to delay divorce until then

You need legal advice OP, like yesterday.

You seem very vulnerable to believing anything he tells you from your second reply and believe me when I say that is going to cost you massively.

Get legal advice and get divorced, now. Don’t give him any more time to fill your head with shit and reorganise to hide anything.

You cannot trust his word, especially on finances, you are not partners anymore and you are both looking out for your own interests- make absolutely sure you get what you are owed.

The only way you are going to get some of the possible profits is if you have shares in the business, but it sounds like he took joint savings and turned them into a business he alone owns. This is not someone who is playing fair.
You need legal support and if he can't free up money from the business will need to let you have more equity from the house. Remember house, pensions, business, savings all go into the pot for division regardless of who 'owns' them.

How do I get shares in the business. Is adding me as a director what I need him to do or something else. Sorry I work for public service so business stuff goes over my head!

Get divorced. He will take your money and screw you over financially if you carry on like this. He’s not going to make you a director or give you shares. He’s going to hide as much money - including your ‘investment’ as he can. Get a solicitor.