Separation Advice-Not married

[WitchICouldGiveUpWork]

Just wondered if anyone could offer some advice.

Friend of mine has been with his partner for about 12 yrs and they have one ds.
They have been having problems for a long time and decided to split.Everything is in her name,house,car etc.

He has been told if he leaves the house she can do him for abandonment and is likely to only get 25% of the value of the house and access to ds every other weekend.

I know they are not married but I thought co-habiting rules had changed and maybe he could go for joint custody.

Anyone got any experience of this as the poor guy is in pieces-he was a SAHD for ds's first 5 yrs.

unlikely I know Scotland have co habiting laws but England does not
I am unmarried and everything is in my partners name. e have drawn up separate legal agreements to cover ourselves and custody but solicitor has said more likely is I'd get the kids, do would get the house if either of us seriosuly contested it
Without an agreement I have no rights except child support - he could challenge for custody but if he has no house...
If he is not on the deeds but can prove contribution to the mortgage he may have legal case separately

Thanks Piffle-doesn't look good for him really does it?

My dh left his ex after she was having an affair. They shared care voluntarily but when she started being a witch he took her to court and got shared residence no probs.
We were told that cafcass and the courts have very much changed policy in the past year in Fathers favour. Shared residency is much more common than it was. He needs a good solicitor fast!

Get him to read this! description

He must not leave or his position will be worse in terms of claiming that the child should live with him.

If the house is in her names then he has no right in England to claim any of it. DOn't know where 25% comes in. He doesn't own the house and the new proposed not yet agreed cohabiting rules are not yet in force. It's her house. Why should he have a share of it just because they lived together and had sex?

Why did he let all that happen? Has he paid any of the mortgage? If he did he may have a bit of a claim.

Does he mostly look after the child or does she? The status quo seems to be kept usually so househusbands or housewives tend to get the children. Presumably he's on the birth certificate.

If the child goes with his partner then he is likely to have to pay 15% of his income for the child. He probably won't have to pay maintenance to his partner however as they weren't married. Makes a massive difference, people don't realise.