H has decided to divorce as does not love me

[Moanranger]

25 year marriage & kids now leaving home. H has always been a tricky customer, no DV or infidelity but hard to please, furtive, introvert. I feel I have tied myself up in knots trying to make him happy, but we are now at end of line. Just told 19 year old son, who offered me a hug & I blurted out "I just want to be with someone who treats me nicely" Says it all really. If no man will, then at least I'll have my friends & not have to be around such a downer. Pointless post, really. Hug from DS nice, though.

A week ago you didn't think you H was going to dump a divorce bomb.

Do not trust him re money. Make sure it is safe asap.

Good luck.

Re unreasonable behaviour, in an amicable divorce you could actually agree the grounds between you, decide who wants to say the other one is being unreasonable, and split the costs in a way that works for you. My solicitor offered this to XH in the opening-shot letter, as a way of saving face and keeping costs down. After all it doesn't matter whether anyone else would objectively see a thing as unreasonable. It is sufficient that you no longer wish to be married to a person who does it. (I know a woman whose petition included the grounds that her husband was too tidy.) Him stating that he no longer loves you, for example, is something you could both agree on. Either of you could cite that the other one does not respect their business decisions - without actually making the bald statement that one of you is wrong. And three or four more of that ilk. Best leave the drinking out of it, unless you don't mind him saying that you nag him about how much he drinks. (Very unreasonable indeed, if I may say so. You should let the bugger pickle his liver in peace. Funerals are cheaper than divorces. But I suppose you have to consider the children's feelings.)

Since you ask, XH did not accept the amicable route. I think he was hoping I'd have to give up the silly divorce project if I ran out of money, so he fought it hard. The tactic failed. My solicitor was cheaper than his (and a lot more effective).

tribot He is a bit obsessed about who files, but it doesn't bother me. If I file, he can play victim, which he enjoys doing. Last night thru this morning I was very tearful, but talking to RL people today has helped a lot, and yes, defo do not want marriage that I had. This is also a HUGE opportunity to get an incompetent out of my business.
xales I take your point re money - hence hot-foot to solicitor & arranging flat valuations. He won't do anything too stupid as HMRC have him under a microscope anyway.
annie Thanks for your story. I expect this to cost, but having a good lawyer on my side will bring piece of mind. Worth it. I have drafted an " unreasonable" narrative. I will wait to see if this is done jointly. I would not go collaborative, and expect business valuation will be sticking point; the rest of the split should be arithmetic.
I have been giving some thought to what I will do when it is all over. I quite fancy a top - notch face lift! Just to feel good about myself. Little interest in another man - older ones are grumpy, or a few years off needing a nurse maid. Quite like the idea of making some good male friends, tho.

A new low tonight. V bad argument over money. H is so angry, almost delusional. It is really hard to live with. I must be strong & recognise that the outcome will be an improvement over status quo.
I try to be reasonable, he responds by being bullying. Very erratic behaviour re money on his part, but then he accuses me of stuff, but you cannot argue with an irrational person.
Today he was at work & very shouty over telephone. Embarrassing. I am trying to manage this, and getting him to hand over company responsibilities, which he is doing, but there is so much anger. Help!

Didnt want to read and run, Moan. Stay strong. And get him out of the company - if not your flat. Do you want to keep it/can you buy him out?
Can you pay him in lieu of notice at work?

If he is being bullying and threatening or intimidating perhaps your solicitor can help you get him out sooner rather than later? Also, definitely pay him in lieu of notice at work. Heaven knows what effect he could have if he hangs about being shouty and angry.

Ugh! Somewhat better as I took charge, confronted him. We had cards on table discussion, and I "managed" his anger. He is very unaware of it, and I constantly had to call him on it. I still felt we left matters pretty heated& brusque, veiled threats, etc.
Then I though, I really don't want a " burn the house down" divorce, so I approached him & said "What would really make you happy?" Which got a more reflective response out of him. Discussion ensued & when he started to recriminate, I called him on it. Basically tried to focus on - let's go forward & recognise & respect that we both want to be happy.
I pointed out to him that his early effort to buy me out of the flat made it seem to me that he was trying to get rid of me.He was not aware of that. We shall see how it goes; I feel somewhat better.
On a happier note, kids are taking me out for b-day on Friday, which is nice. Phoned my daughter in midst of tonight's tumult. I really hate being the moany, weepy old mum, but she was fine. I think parent role is to put a brave face on things, so deviating from that is tough.

It has been 6 days since I posted. Great B-day with friends and family on Friday. But H causes me serious stress. I got house valued by 3 estate agents, but then he says values should be less as houses never sell for their asking prices. I am afraid lawyer will have to set him straight, but everything seems to be a battle with him, and it wears me down.
Saw a very old friend (male) today who has been thru more than 1 divorce & he suggested that I not be in the same room alone with him. I simply cannot deal with H and his alternate reality.
If you met me you would think I am together and a real coper, but boy I don't feel like it around him. He is nasty.

Good luck and keep us posted xx

Rooting for you moan. I think the advice of your friend might be very wise if you can make this happen.

Let your solicitor deal with h's alternate reality. In what way is he nasty? Are you safe?

Glad your b-day was good. Good luck.

Jux not physical, just really unpleasant, empathy-free zone, mean. It is just wearing me down.
I do experience moments of real joy, especially in nature, & am very happy in my own company. At the moment calm & peaceful, won't see him for a couple of days.
Son gave me a lovely necklace for my birthday - a real sweetie.

Nightmare for you. dont even TRY to be reasonable. an unreasonable man never becomes more reasonable after u split.

Lovely. Children can be bright spots in the middle of darkness, can't they?

It is wearing. i suppose these abusive men always think thay can wear you down and then you'll be nice and meek again.

Your children sound so lovely. Just imagine that calm and peaceful world is where you'll be in the future. I still relish the peace of my life eight years on - even though it is noisy and full, with a new DH and lots of kids. I appreciate the pleasant, supportive environment where there are no eggshells and everyone's feelings matter. And there's no fecker is moaning at me about perceived slights.

On the three house valuations ... I asked the estate agents for a valuation for a quick sale and the figure they'd market it at so I was able to point to a slightly lower figure that couldn't be argued about. They put both in the valuation.

Good luck.

WRT the business can redundancy be offered to him to get him out earlier? Not sure whether he is an employee. If he's a company director perhaps a compromise agreement based on his behaviour at work.