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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

HELP ME GET THROUGH THIS DIVORCE

20 replies

conway · 09/09/2014 14:32

I have posted many times and for the last 18 months have been wanting a divorce but dithering for a long time.
Have finally paid my fee to my solicitor and he is starting divorce proceedings. I am so scared , please help me to be strong. Last time I bought up divorce he threatened not to pay school fees,so I cancelled the appointment. After seeking legal advise I think that it is really unlikely that they will have to leave their schools,so have decided to go ahead.
I haven't told my hubby yet but plan to tonight or tomorrow night. He will likely get the letter before he goes on a business trip on friday. I have filed on the grounds of his unreasonable behavior mostly due to his drinking. I think that he will deny it all ,especially as for the last few months he hasn't been as bad.
I am so scared that the kids will always hate me for this.
Also will have to live in the same house until things are finalised so may be hard.
Please ,any advice on how to make things easier and please advice on how to keep me strong when I know it is going to be horrid.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 09/09/2014 14:42

Do you have friends or family that know what's going on ? Someone you can confide in? MN is fine as far as it goes but you need someone IRL you can be with or call on the phone when things get tough. It makes it easier not to be alone

How old are your DCs and do they know he drinks and see his behaviour when drunk? Divorce is upsetting for children but IME they are not easily fooled. They are highly unlikely to hate you whatever happens.

As for staying in the same house, that does seem to be the current advice. However, if your STBXH is unstable or aggressive, and if it causes you or the DCs distress by being under the same roof, don't feel obliged to stick around for punishment.

conway · 09/09/2014 20:35

thanks for your words.It feels very scarey and I am not looking forward to telling him tomorrow. I know I have to do it however hard it is.

OP posts:
eeyoreandpooh · 10/09/2014 07:14

I was in a similar position just over a year ago - was dreading the letter arriving and unfortunately I was there when it didShockhe threw his toys out the pram and tried to make me feel bad, the petition arrived a few weeks later and he was vile to me and I had to leave in the end. I divorced on unreasonable behaviour, he denied everything obviously it was all my faultConfusedI know exactly how you are feeling now and it is scary, but you will come through the other side,the strength to deal with whatever comes your way is there - you just don't know it until you need it. Good luck Flowers

MustTryDating · 10/09/2014 07:34

Good luck today Conway.

Tomasinax · 10/09/2014 15:55

I adore both my son and daughter-in-law, and their two children. He has been having an affair, apparently now over, but my daughter-in-law has filed for divorce. I do understand how she feels. Can anyone please give advice as to how to deal with this. I am totally heartbroken.

thenamehaschanged · 10/09/2014 16:23

Big hugs Conway I am in exactly the same boat lovey. I've buried my head about it because I'm still waiting for the papers to come back from being lodged at court so at the moment H is none the wiser and to make matters worse is behaving perfectly nicely.

All I will say is that although you don't feel it, you are in fact very brave and are doing absolutely the right thing - your marriage isn't good enough, it makes you unhappy and you want out and this is not a secret you've been keeping from him because you have brought it up before hence his threat not to pay his children's school fees.

When I expressed my fears to my solicitor she said 'look, are you 100% decided in your mind that you want out of this marriage' to which I said yes, and then she said 'well my advice is that we serve the papers and see what happens'

And I thought, well yes, that's all I can do. It's a case of crossing bridges when coming to them, fear of what May or may not happen is what has kept you and I where we are for too long. For a start, the school won't kick your DC's out straightaway if he refuses to pay, if you speak to them and let them know you are going to be going through a divorce they may show leniency and offer temporary support.

Mine I fear will walk out of his job leaving the mortgage going unpaid, I was terrified about it at first having been through years of financial anxiety with him, but my solicitor explained there are ways round this with mortgage companies and they will allow me to sell the place without threatening repossession.

I can't stay in an abusive marriage because of financial fears and nor can you. Your DC are so not going to hate you. They really aren't, they love you. How old are they?

Keep assured that you are doing the right thing and as everyone has told me here, stay safe that is the main, main thing. Make sure you are safe when he receives the papers X

CogitoErgoSometimes · 10/09/2014 17:15

"Can anyone please give advice as to how to deal with this. I am totally heartbroken."

I think it's important that your DIL knows that she has your sympathy and that you are genuinely upset/angry/disappointed at your DS's behaviour. However be careful about taking sides. Good bad or indifferent, your DS will always be your DS. Relationships break down all the time, for all sorts of reasons and it's always painful. If you want to help your DIL, make sure he does the right thing by her and the DCs now, not messing them around with stupid arguments over money or contact etc. Hold his feet to the fire if necessary.

Sadly, you have to be prepared that the relationship with your DIL is going to change. Maybe not immediately, but over time. Some divorcees can manage to maintain a good relationship with ex-ILs. Others find it too difficult and have to withdraw for their own sake. Good luck

Tomasinax · 10/09/2014 17:38

Thank you for your comments. I am trying to keep the middle line, and not taking sides. My son knows he will have to be fair. I pray that I have good I will continue to have good times with my grandsons, who are content and happy when they spend time with us.

inlectorecumbit · 10/09/2014 18:27

I am so sorry Tomasinax
I hope you -although not taking sides--did tell your DS how disappointed you were in his behaviour. Regardless of the state of his marriage he crapped all over your poor DIL AND his DS's, l am sure you did not bring him up to be such an obnoxious creature.

OP it will be difficult to live together during the divorce, if there is no way he would move out l would suggest that you start living as a single parent. Stop doing his cooking cleaning laundry etc. Separate your finances and try and negotiate maintenance. If he is being difficult submit a claim for maintenance with Child Benefit Agency right away so that it will be backdated.
Start telling people, when it becomes real he may accept it a bit easier. I hope you can be civil especially in front of the DC's.
Is there anyone you and the DC's can stay with if he becomes difficult?

WellWhoKnew · 10/09/2014 18:31

Hi conway, I know it's going to be horrid for a while, especially as it's you, not him, taking the decision to divorce. He will be very upset and angry. If you're in fear of attack do not hesitate to ring the police.

The best advice I can is to not get into rows if you can in anyway avoid it. Once you've decided you want out, it doesn't matter one jot who is to blame, it is just a legal process of getting out of marriage.

When you divorce people are full of indignation and blame. All sorts of threats will be made.

But divorce ends this. It can be a very straightforward "think of it as a box-ticking exercise". If you can keep yourself calm and focused, you can ignore anything he says or does (not easy to do admittedly).

Remind yourself you've decided to divorce because you are so unhappy. It is your decision to end the marriage and you have given it a great deal of thought. You felt coerced in to staying last time.

If he makes threats about schooling - say that's a matter to be dealt with later when it comes to separating the assets and arranging contact. Be firm that you don't need to sort out any agreements whilst things are so raw.

If you can, just remain very calm and just keep repeating - I'm sorry but I can't continue in this marriage. Don't react to any threats - they may well be baseless so presume 'I'll believe it when I see it" in your head.

Don't try and get anything resolved in the short term - give him time to calm down and reflect.

In a way, you have to be 'holier than thou' in the early stages as a survival mechanism until one of you can find alternative housing arrangements (which solicitors will advise against you).

One idea is, if you have a spare room, then turn it in to a 'studio' type room with a small TV, armchair etc which you can effectively hibernate in if need be.

Remember divorce ends! A shit marriage never does. You don't say how old the kids are, and I'm sure people around here, have done this too so if you want to give more info, people can tell you about their experiences.

thenamehaschanged · 10/09/2014 18:45

^ what WWK says! Smile

tara49 · 10/09/2014 21:52

Omg - just reading this trying to gather the strength to tell him I want out of this disaster of a marriage but he will go ballistic, he'll smash up my home and refuse to leave and won't give me a penny. He's drunk (again) tonight and just the sound of him staggering to the loo revolts me. I don't want to be poor but I really can't stand the drunken vile creature he's become.
I wish I could get the strength to do it.

WellWhoKnew · 10/09/2014 22:38

He even tries to smash up the home, you ring the police. That's what they are there for.

Love, if you hate being married to him, you don't have to be. Everyone knows it's a difficult decision to leave, but if it means a chance of happiness after, it's probably worth it.

Go and chat to a solicitor before you tell him to find out how it all works, what kind of financial life you'll have afterwards. They'll need to know your income, his income, savings, pensions, age of any children, length of relationship (including pre-marriage), debts. Don't worry if you don't know much about him - and don't take any paperwork in his name only, just your knowledge. Remember seeing a solicitor does not mean you are getting a divorce!

tara49 · 13/09/2014 00:06

Yes, you're right - I could at least find out where I stand. I'm worried also because I own half of my mothers flat - she still lives there although my mother and I bought it before I got married. I'm worried he can claim half and kick her out on the street.they don't get on anyway.
I guess I could get all the info first but either way I can't go on like this, I actually can't stand him.

WellWhoKnew · 13/09/2014 06:15

Good luck Tara, there's no harm done by talking to people. With regard to your mother's flat here's some thoughts for optimism:

  • bought before you got married
  • half owned by her (her age and level of ability will be factors too)
  • there a few 'hard and fast' rules in separation of assets, no one is made homeless unless absolutely necessary, so something you can negotiate around.

Most of my beliefs about divorce were misplaced and ill-founded. A good solicitor will explain what is possible in your particular circumstances. Every divorce is unique (so that's why there are no hard and fast rules in divorce).

Good luck with it all.

Zebraface · 13/09/2014 20:41

I'm sorry you are going through this OP but be strong. You are doing what is best for you & DC.
I feared for the school fees when xh left for ow,was told by barrister that court could not order fees to be continued,so I called his bluff & suggested putting ds in state school. This created panic as always xh plan to pay (although he wanted me to pay 1/2...wtf I was a part time mum earning 1/10 of his wages).
Things will likely turn horrible.....do NOT leave the fmh (former marital home)....you are entitled to stay there until DC turn 18....this is your bargaining power.
Keep calm,keep posting,you will get good advice,but turn to people you trust as the sh*t will be hitting the fan.
Be brave!

conway · 14/09/2014 21:07

Thanks for all your help.My hubby is away at the moment so he will get the divorce petition while he is away in a few days time.
I am enjoying the peace while he is away and busy decorating the spare room. The next worry is when and how to tell my boys age 13 and 8.
This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to do.

OP posts:
WellWhoKnew · 15/09/2014 00:26

Hey Conway, anyone who gives help, has previous accepted help.

Bumping this thread so that someone with similar aged children can tell you what they did.

The divorce petition is going to flame him enormously, so don't stop venting here - it's an unpleasant road, but it does end.

Take care, KOKO and all.

FuckitAndStartAgain · 15/09/2014 06:55

You are very brave Conway.

We told the boys, older than yours together and were able to say where we would be living what they could do when at that time.

Your situation is different I know. My best advice is to tell them the truth, never fudge or lie, but only tell them what they need to know. So, not all the details. I have a feeling they will be relieved that you are being open with them.

Good luck. X

tara49 · 15/09/2014 22:27

Hi Conway
Sorry I hijacked your post - just all so familiar. Good luck. Tara x

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