how far back...

[nearlyfree]

Not sure if anyone can help, just looking for a bit of advice really?I?m hoping to speak to my solicitor first thing in the morning. In January 2008 I told my ex that I wanted us to separate?he was not a happy man?he would not agree. He did not leave at first but did, eventually, in June 2008. Today I finally received notice that he has started divorce proceedings?but included with the letter was a questionnaire asking me to give specific details of any accounts I held in AUGUST 2007?wants to know exactly what I spent every penny on?can he insist on this?given that we were still together at the time and we had never been privy to each others finance?(separate accounts because I work for a bank and he kept taking the joint account overdrawn, so had to keep finances separate?I never enquired what he spent his spare cash on and he never asked me?though I only work 20 hrs a week + child benefit so I wasn?t actually loaded?but he didn?t give me any money?I was totally reliant on my own money, he paid most of the bills, and food, I ran my own car, paid some towards the bills, dressed myself and the kids, school uniform shoes etc?saved for xmas, holidays etc?

Now he seems to be implying that I somehow accrued £25000 and somehow squirreled it away?

Would love to see his face if I started asking him to account for every penny that went in and out of his accounts!!

And how far back can he ask for me to do this?

Do I have to give into this?.???

Not sure if anyone can help, just looking for a bit of advice really?I?m hoping to speak to my solicitor first thing in the morning. In January 2008 I told my ex that I wanted us to separate?he was not a happy man?he would not agree. He did not leave at first but did eventually, in June 2008. Today I finally received notice that he has started divorce proceedings?but included with the letter was a questionnaire asking me to give specific details of any accounts I held in AUGUST 2007?wants to know exactly what I spent every penny on?can he insist on this?given that we were still together at the time and we had never been privy to each others finance?(separate accounts because I work for a bank and he kept taking the joint account overdrawn, so had to keep finances separate?I never enquired what he spent his spare cash on and he never asked me?though I only work 20 hrs a week + child benefit so there wasn?t actually much spare?he didn?t give me any money?I was totally reliant on my own money, he paid most of the bills, and food, I ran my own car, paid some towards the bills, dressed myself and the kids, school uniform shoes etc?saved for xmas, holidays etc?

Now he seems to be implying that I somehow accrued £25000 and somehow squirreled it away?

Would love to see his face if I started asking him to account for every penny that went in and out of his accounts and how far back can he ask for me to do this?

Do I have to give into this?.???

You will have to answer certain questions with regards to your finances and once divorce procedings, and presumably financial proceedings are issued you will have to complete a Form E financial statement. This document sets out details of all your financial assets, income, outgoings, pensions and any other assets you may have and you also need to disclose copies of bank statements, wage slips, P60 etc.
From what you have said though, bearing in mind you were still together at that time, it seems a rather long time to go back. With the form E you are required to provide 12 months statements and in some circumstances you can be required to provide them for a longer period if your ex has real reason for suspecting that perhaps you have been 'squirreling' assets away etc.

Obviously, you are entitled to ask him the same questions. It is always preferable to provide voluntary disclosure of finances up to a point and I would say at the moment 12 months is more than reasonable. Clearly, he should do the same. If however he/his solicitor are not happy with this then his only recourse would be to issue a formal application for anciallary relief (financial aspects of divorce) at which point you will then need to complete a Form E financial statement and supply the requested information. This is a 'sworn' document (ie on oath) and therefore it is essential that it is completed truthfully or there could be problems in the future.

Hope this helps.

thanks so much for you advice...got an appointment with my solicitor at 2 so hopefully he will help me sort thru this...feeling grim at the moment...hope i don't come home feeling worse!!

ps sorry dont know how i managed to post my question twice

good luck, hope all goes well with your solicitor, keep us posted x