How do you get a divorce without using a solicitor?

[longwaytogoandabitfurther]

Someone told me yesterday that you could do this. If so how?

It's a piece of cake - ring up your County Court (in the phone book) and ask for the forms - they'll include a leaflet telling you how to fill it in, and it's all straightforward. I divorced successfully, including custody arrangements, without a solicitor - but ex-DH and I agreed on everything beforehand, so there was no conflict.

you fill in some forms and file them with the court I think

I started with a solicitor and then deinstructed them and just sent the forms and fees myself

you will find some info online I think

of course it means you have to negotiate a settlement yourself and agree child care etc

but do things like childcare, finances get written into some kind of agreement or does you just agree between you.

h has agreed to pay the mortgage but I have a fear that once he has found someone else then he won't want to pay it any longer. If he doesn't pay it then 5 of us are homeless, he says that won't happen, but what happens in the future when the dc are of an age when they not living at home anymore.

there's a website, my friends used it to divorce, i'll see if i can find it

seems bizarre but is totally legit!

thier not an issue but what if he decides to not pay the mortgage in 5 years time, but he did go to solicitor and they said they try not to get involved in finances if at all possible

I'd ask h for a full disclosure of financial assets and give him yours whatever

Get a lawpack for WHsmiths

It is trickier with children my partner got a lawpack divorce but they had already established childcare, maintenance etc between them

why is it when i click on links they do nothing

i'm not being flippant - but if the children are not at home in the future - why would he still pay the mortgage? why should he keep a roof over your head when your presumably able to do that yourself when the children are grown?

www.lawpack.co.uk/

but the point is my name is on the house deeds so what happens if he sells the house or if i take over the payments, we only bought it 12 months ago and its our first time back on the property ladder after 11 years so its costing us a fortune.

custy - one reason might be that staying at home for 10+ years to care for children has an adverse effect on your earning power

so i just maintain the house, pay for all improvements, bring up his kids etc, etc and then just give him the house.

I really don't know what to do - he is the one that had an affair, he is the one that said that he loved me and wanted me and family life and now 20 months on he has changed his mind and says he hasn't loved me for years and is leaving and consequently has left.

he is the alcholic that has started drinking again after 20 yrs, he is the one who has been addicted to codiene for 11 yrs of our 16 yr marriage, but why should he keep a roof over my head, no reason i guess except i've just given up 16 yrs of marriage because he wants to.

I am so fed up and flipping angry

i realise all of this

i just dontthink that he should pay for your roof indefinatley.

if you know your earning power is a bit rubbish there are things you can do.

if the house is his - i ould see a solicitor as i would expect and you should expect that looking after his children enabled him to earn the money needed to buy the house for the family and as such you are entitled to half the equity absolutly.

Longwaytogo - usually financial settlements on divorce are based on a no blame basis. That means that the reason for the marriage ending has no bearing on how the assets are split.

Usually, if there is enough money the court will try and keep children in the family home but this usually ends when the children have all reached age 18 (or do not live in the home, if this is earlier). At that point the house is usually sold and proceeds split between the two parties. The starting point for a longish marraige will be a 50:50 split of assets, including any pension assets he might have.

It is really too complicated to do yourself I would say, so I would advise you to take legal advice.

Poor you
Sound like you've been supportive to him for plenty of years I think he owes you

The house is ours, when he was living here we paid the mortgage and the bills from a joint bank account.

I work too, not full time but i work. Actually up until 20 months ago we both earned equally, I probably worked harder even though I had a 1 yr old and a new born.

Our house, car were provided with the job. When all that went pair shaped because of his affair I said that unless he was absolutely sure that he loved me and wanted me that we wouldn't enter into a joint mortgage and would rent to save all this.

But he constantly reassured me that it was me he loved and family life is what he wanted.

Now look where we are. Men

www.quickie-divorce.com it costs about £69

there is a very good new divorce community website where you can get free advice on the whole process - and their community are really friendly/supportive

www.wikivorce.com

i hope it helps

Sounds like you need a solicitor hon are you entitled to legal aid cos it can be dear - if you divorce him on adultery he has to agree but you are entitled to more assets - protect yourself (rich coming from me I know but I have an excellent solicitor who cost a fortune but well worth it)...