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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

Divorce solicitor advice please?

100 replies

Onedaysoon · 09/07/2007 09:27

Hi, this is just a request for info from one of the solicitors on MN, a quickie question really. I have filed for divorce and H says he won't engage a solicitor under any circumstances. He refuses to pay for one, as he is still paying off the legal fees from his first divorce. How does that affect the proceedings? Will it hold things up? We are still living under the same roof and it's intolerable for me and the kids and the thought that this could drag it on and on fills me with horror.

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Onedaysoon · 23/07/2007 09:18

Mumfun...no I honestly have no one to turn to for support. My best friend is 150 miles away and anyway has a family and a job so she can't come. I have no friends here as he has made sure we are well and truly isolated. Family live 150 miles away too, and sister is in Oz. I wouldn't ask anyone to stay anyway here as it'd be a nightmare for them. I am, literally, on my own.

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Onedaysoon · 23/07/2007 10:01

Ok, there's something else which worries me and I don't know if I'm being over sensitive or not. I don't feel that his behaviour towards my 12 year old DD is appropriate. She's a very pretty girl, and this last 6 months sge's started 'developing'. She started her periods, with minimal fuss and bother and her body started changing. her boobs are growing at quite a fast rate, and she's got hips and a waist IYKWIM.
Anyway, he keeps saying things to her like 'you know in that pub today, those blokes were checking you out, and they were at least 20' or after a d ay at the zoo 'I saw loads of blokes checking you out. Wonder what they'd do if they found out you were only 12' and making comments about her bust. he keeps calling her Beth from Dog the Bounty Hunter...if you watch it you'll know what I mean, she has a massive bust. He tells her she has a lovely figure, and comments on it all the time...'You'll have to be careful, dressed like that, blokes will get the wrong idea' (this cos she had a denim mini skirt on, nothing provocative). he also tells her that her and him will get married one day (after I read a story about a girl marrying her stepfather) and then if they have babies together (I'm retching alrwady) the babies would be my whatever the realtionship would be to me, and that she would be her little sister's stepmother etc. he tries to get her to sit on his lap a lot too. Then, at swimming a few weeks ago, he was carrying her in the pool with one arm under her knees and one around her back/bum...and it reminded me of how you see 'lovers' in a pool or on holiday. She has told me it makes hger feel really uncomfortable but she's too scared to tell him not to speak to her like that etc. Am I being paranoid? Given the fact that he doesn't appear to have any interest in 'normal' sex, (5 times in 4 and a half years), set up a website for extar marital affairs (wantig me to take on the part of ALL the women on his 'books') and looks up porn in front of our DD2?

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Onedaysoon · 23/07/2007 11:28

Bump

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meowmix · 23/07/2007 11:38

call social services and get him out.

If you really think he's behaving badly round the kids then put them first and to hell with him having a parental relationship. He may be their biological father but he's not behaving like a father.

Whats scaring me is that this is escalating. How bad does it have to be before you get him out or get yourself out? I know its not easy to do these things but I don't see you have much choice.

Onedaysoon · 23/07/2007 12:15

meowmix...he's only biological father to the little one. I am putting them first and am trying everything to get him out. I went to the police on Saturday morning but they could do nothing. Yes, his behaviour is escalating and that's what worries me. I have tried to talk to the social worker who was assigned before but he is out of the office - I will try again in a minute. I am also going to the dr later as I am starting to struggle with it all - my hair is starting to fall out, periods all over the place, trouble sleeping...the stress is enormous. Believe me, I have involved the dr, the social services, the police, women's aid...I have filed for divorce but nothing seems to be in place to help me and he just won't leave! I'm at my wits end.

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Freckle · 23/07/2007 13:05

Are you in council accommodation? Is the tenancy in joint names? You could unilaterally terminate the tenancy and move into a refuge. Exp would have to move out and then hopefully the council could move you straight back in again.

It's all very well saying, why should I be the one to go, but, from what you are saying, matters are getting worse on all fronts and you don't want to be getting out in a month's time because he has interfered with your 12 yo, do you?

CarGirl · 23/07/2007 13:21

Have you got hold of ss yet? Can you ring and speak to the DV police again today tell them what your dd has said. I think you need to keep hassling them until they are sick of you and therefore decide to help you. Which county do you live in, if you were near me I'd come over or at the very least let you come to me for the day to give you a break etc

Onedaysoon · 23/07/2007 13:22

Hiya...I'm only hesitating over the refuge idea because my children hated it in there and have begged me not to go. However, I have spoken to the solicitor this morning and he has lengthened my appt tomorrow so that we can do the divorce AND start proceedings for an injunction against him, and occupation order. he is going to write to him saying that if he doesn't move out voluntarily we will go to court and seek the orders. He reckons we will get a hearing next week.
He has also advised me that I am not to let DD2 go anywhere with him at all, as he isn't fit to drive at the best of times (I usually drive) and also given his frame of mind lately.
DD1 is NEVER alone with him so he can't physically do anything to her and he's not even speaking to the kids now anyway.

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Onedaysoon · 23/07/2007 13:24

Cargirl...I spoke to social services who basically said Ineed to get him out. When I told her that he wanted to take DD2 away fro the weekend she said 'I don't think so' and told me not to let her go and that I needed to speak to my solicitor ASAP, which I have done.

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Onedaysoon · 23/07/2007 13:24

I'm in Suffolk by the way, almost on the Essex border.

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CarGirl · 23/07/2007 13:24

Where do you live - feel free to be vague, I'd love to be able to help you.

CarGirl · 23/07/2007 13:25

Too far away I live the opposite side of the M25 but if you want a day trip you're welcome to come over!

CarGirl · 23/07/2007 13:27

Your solicitor sounds good and on the ball - a major helpful factor in all of this.I would speak to SS again tell them of the plans and see if they can put pressure on the council to terminate his tenancy immediately? In fact start ringing the council every hour or so until they are fed up with you too!

Onedaysoon · 23/07/2007 13:38

Thanks . I'm just worried about actually saying NO to him and refusing him DD2 to take away with him. I just spoke to my neighbour - she told me that I would be surprised how many people in the village want to approach me and the kids but are scared of him! He's isolated us from everyone. Apparenly we have lots of support but it's from afar!
The council won't terminate the tenancy unless they terminate it completely,a s was mentioned a few posts back. But they also told me there is no guarantee that they will give us the house back again afterwards!

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CarGirl · 23/07/2007 14:33

Hmmm I thought if he was in breach of the tenancy agreement they could kick him out? Can you ask solicitor to look at the tenancy agreement, thinking perhaps one phone call from a solicitor may help them get their act together? Would you ask your neighbours to speak to the dv unit to confirm your side of the story?

Mumfun · 23/07/2007 18:49

sorry just back on and not lot of time.

Number one Im too far away to be any good I think but will look up map later.

Do get your solicitor to do as much as poss tomorrow.

You say there is support in village. I really think you should speak to someone. If you could talk to one of the women and be honest that you are in some trouble. Do you think it would help if he knew that people in the village were looking out for you?

I will try to come back later

Mumfun · 23/07/2007 22:07

Hope you are ok.

One random question.

What sort of porn is he looking at - could you get him on that? Ie would police be interested?

Cant think of anything else really - not experienced at this sort of thing. Bumping hoping someone more knowledgeable can come along

MF

CarGirl · 23/07/2007 22:08

I really do mean it if you want to come over for a long day you are more than welcome - I live j11 of M25 so it is doable, I have plenty of free days over the holidays.

Well keep checking on your post x

Sakura · 24/07/2007 00:54

Oh my God, hes just awful. Does it help if I say that you sound really sane. Very articulate and in control. you might not feel like that or believe that you are, but that is how youre coming accross. You must be the kind of person who copes well in a crisis.
He just fits the "narcissist" description to a T. Is there anyway of knowing how long this can go on for? Because I think the refuge is sounding like a good idea now. With abuse, people dont realise how bad it is <span class="italic">until</span> <span class="italic">theyve left. SO your kids might not want to go, but that might be because theyVE desensitised to his abuse and thats not good. What youRe describing is really awuful. Holding grudges and witholding love against a 3 year old, and the rest. SamVAk says, this is DANGEROUS to a child.
And no, I wouldnT trust him with your elder daughter. Not because of the lack of sex, that is a different thing that narcissists do to keep their mate hanging and frustrated. More of a power thing- not because they dont want sex. But because apparently every paedophile is a narcissist (not the other way round-not every narcissist is a paedophile). But they dont see others as real people. SImply as two dimensional pawns in their life. They donT have empathy so they cant imagine how other people feel, or if have an idea, they simply donT care.
What he has already done to your daughter counts as sexual harrasment, and is pretty disgusting by human standards.
Narcissists are fantastic at "acting" and faking emotions. SO when we meet them we feel like weVe met our soul mate. But this is the real him, thats it. And it can and will get worse. I would leave to the refuge if I were you. Then you can give yourself some breathing space. If youre in a mess, youRe no good to your kids anyway. Im sure, when you get there, youll look back and be amazed you were living with him for as long as you were. I doubt youll regret going.

Onedaysoon · 24/07/2007 08:42

Hi all. Couldn't get back on yesterday as he was here.
Cargirl: the council won't act on his breach of tenancy. I've tried and they won't do it. Again, if he was physically battering me they would but they just don't recognise emotional abuse. And thanks for the offer...I may just take you up on it.
Mumfun: My neighbour knows esactly what's going on as she helped us 'escape' before by stashing stuff for me, and then meeting me halfway between home and refuge with more of my stuff. I've told her what is happening now so she is well aware. The other people apparently just won't come near as they find him 'scary', and said they can't put their finger on it but there is something 'odd' about him. The porn was general stuff. He wanted (in fact he did) set up a website for married people to have extra marital affairs (!!!!!) He wanted me to take on the persona of various different women, e mailing and phoning these men and pretending I was their ideal match!!! he was going to do the same with the women. He was then sitting at the computer, openly looking at porn sites with DD2 standing at his side. When I walked in the room, there was a sort of montage of images on the screen...lesbian sex, oral sex, threesomes...you know the usual kind of stuff? I went mad, and asked him what the hell he was doing looking at that in front of our baby, and he said she didn't knopw what it was so it wouldn't hurt her and that he was 'researching' for his business venture! The kids also use the computer, and you know how when you type a letter into the search box it drops down a history of sites...well luckily I went on there before the kids and typed in G for something, and it came up with 'Gwen Stefani tits' and 'Gwen Stefani nude'...one of the kids could have clicked on that and Christ knows what kind of filth they may have been subjected to!
Hhe is now completely ignoring DD2, his 3 year old daughter! I came back from the dr yesterday and he was already here. I had had a bill from Sky (he's the only one who watches it) and I asked him for half of the bill. He ignored me so I asked him again and he said he might and he might not, then said no, not unless I pay half of a bill which he hasn't paid and now the company are taking him to court! I said no way...it was his bill and if he'd paid it on time he wouldn't be in a mess. Anyway, he then ignored all the kids. We had dinner, and he walked in the kitchen. DD1's chair was in his way, so instead of asking her to move he just shoved her chair forward onto 2 legs so she was pushed against the table! He then spent the rest of the evening blanking everyone, including the little one...never said a word to her. Walked past her plenty, but just didn't even acknowledge her existence. How the hell can someone do that to a baby?
Sakura: the ignoring thing is also indicative of NPD isn't it? I was a mess last time, but this time I am far far stronger so am able to deal with this, but it's still hard. I take great joy and comfort in my children which is what keeps me sane. What worries me is that if we go for an injunction and it fails to be granted, then life will be hell. He'll use that against me, as he did when social services dropped the case (they dropped it because they said their involvement was making him worse and because the marriage was over anyway!!!). He used that to literally say to me 'what I did wasn't abuse, social services said it was ok, so therefore it is'. Similarly, if I request supervised access and that isn't granted there is no telling what he will do.
Incidentally, when I came home yesterday he has implemented a bar on all outgoing calls, which means I cannot phone anyone at all...social services, solicitor, not even sure if 999 works on it now. Even more controlling behaviour. He knows that my mobile raraely works here as there is virtually no signal.

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CarGirl · 24/07/2007 12:53

Do you think your dd would make a complaint via the police?

I think if it all goes wrong just go to a refuge - I know that means you lose the house etc.

did your solicitor have any more advice? I think you do need to speak to your council and social services again circumstances and his behaviour have changed. You need to push them and say "he is making sexual advances towards my dd - I will hold you responsible if anything happens" etc etc etc

Wish there was something I could do to help - weather doesn't help, you can't just go out with them all when it keeps rainging! could you buy a tent and go camping every weekend??? Local campsite or something?

Mumfun · 24/07/2007 12:57

Hi

Again quickly. I know you want to hang onto the council house but this sounds too much. The phone thing worries me.

The only thing that I could have seen working is some of the local guys coming round and warning him that they were on his case and if he did anything!.

But I dont feel from what youve said that this will happen.

Ideally you go and stay with someone you know until September. In the meanwhile the council get him out as he hasnt right of tenancy as only one person. If I were you I would sit down and think where could I go. From what hes done, if they knew, any decent friend or relative should take you in. Would anyone in the village take you in - I am serious.

If you cant do anything else I think sorry but you should go to the refuge.

Got to go will be back.

Also change title of your posting or do new one as you need more halp than solicitor stuff now

CarGirl · 24/07/2007 13:00

you can't move out completely and claim housing benefit but you can go on holiday - seriously do you have a campsite - go on holiday there for the summer even in the rain it is better than being there. You can go home now and then so you are still living there etc. Get your own phone line installed - expensive but I would really worry about not having a phone?

CarGirl · 25/07/2007 18:01

How are you doing today, how did it go with the solicitor?

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