Separation

[Jenksgrace]

Does anyone know where I stand if I was to leave my partner. We’ve been together 7-years but are not married. Have two children. My partner owns the house and is in his name only. I left my job when our first child was born so have no income that’s my own so reply on my partner financially. Can anyone help please?

As far as I understand, you have no 'rights' at all if you're not married. You might be able to apply to get some maintenance for the children but don't expect too much. Many men pay only the bare minimum - if at all.

What sort of partner do you have? Will he step-up to the plate if you separate or make your life hell?

Following with interest as I feel a similar situation approaching for me and the DC..

Strictly speaking he would only be obliged to pay maintenance for the children. You have no automatic legal entitlement to any of his wealth or income other than the child support as you would if you were married. Unless there is some other form of agreement or understanding in place it is unlikely you will be make a claim.

The council may house you, or he could help you find a flat and act as a guarantor. Essentially you will be living off benefits plus child maintenance or you will need to get a job. If you get a job you will need childcare. That’s an issue for him too.

What will his position be and can he afford to help you with anything other than the child support. Do you have a reasonable relationship ?

You have no rights to the house as your not named on it.

He owes you maintenance and that’s it.

OP

Just to be clear, a mutual agreement, ideally written but a verbal agreement that could be evidenced, may be the basis for a financial claim against your STEX. If he wasn’t willing to honour it, then the question would be were it was worth pursuing in court. A solicitor is the person to advise you.

He is financially responsible for his children so should make maintenance payments.

If this property is solely in his name he is within his rights here to ask you to leave. Your rights in law here are practically non existent.

Unfortunately, you have hardly any.
This is why it is always recommended to get married before you give up a career and have kids with a man.
He will need to pay maintenance for his kids but that's it.
Sorry, but you've left yourself in a very vulnerable situation.
Could you get back into work?
How old are the DC?
Have chat with 'rights of women' just in case.

Thank you for the replies so far. I have no issues with the child maintenance side of things, but just concerned about living arrangements. I had bad debt in the past and although all sorted my credit rating is low now due to having no credit, hence why I’m not on the mortgage/own the property as we didn’t want to risk any reason issues with obtaining the mortgage.

As far as I am aware you would only be entitled to maintenance as you aren’t married or named on the house

Would you be able to go back to work you might be able to get tax credits

One child has just started school and my other will start playschool in the new year, so possibly not until then, but would also would need to fit around school/playschool drop offs which are hard to come by. Unless I do night shift work

You may be entitled to help with child care if you went back to work before your youngest starts school
Your in a very vulnerable situation as you have no claim on the house and no income
Maybe look on the entitled to website see if you could get any benefits