Finances for a hypothetical divorce

[fantango]

I've name changed!

I've been thinking long and hard about filing for divorce. I won't go into the background of why but wondered if anyone knows where I stand financially. We've been together 8 years, married for two.

I have two children (one with him). I own my house outright as my parents very kindly bought if for me pre-marriage. The house is solely in my name. Recent valuation has now skyrocketed due to popularity in the area so it's priced as circa £800k.

My husband pays no "rent" but pays the following bills: gas and electricity, council tax, sky, my car insurance and 50% of dd2's school fees.

I pay the other half of dd2's fees, all of dd1's, water bill, house and contents insurances, food and all of the childrens activities, uniform etc, house refurbishments etc.

We have separate finances. He has about £13k debt.

If we divorced, am I likely to have to hand over £400k ofmy house? I know marriage makes assets shared but morally, it kills me to think he hasn't paid for a brick. Can anyone tell me if this is the reality?

How long did you live together before you married, the full 8 years?

Do you both earn similar?

Would you be primary carer?

You need qualified legal advice based on all the information about your family life and finances. Even then you are looking at a number of outcomes.

Internet advice will be unqualified, based on partial and misinterpreted facts and distorted views of what might have happened to someone’s friend or aunt Betty.

What LemonTT said btw, my questions are just the start of the information you need to pull together that would be taken into consideration.

Get yourself a SHL!

Oh of course I'll get legal advice! This is just a general enquiry. Thank you.

General principle is that courts favour a clean break where the children can be accommodated in both homes. They would support the siblings being together the majority of the time.

How much would H need to buy a property to accommodate him and his DC having overnight contact, how much mortgage could he raise etc.

This is why I wish prenups were legal in the uk. Defo get legal advice. Perhaps you can put the house in your mums name again or in a children’s trust for them or something that would stop him getting his hands on it if it turns out that this would be the case. Good luck op.

If it was the other way round everyone would be saying you were fully entitled to it

You definitely need legal advice
There may arguments to allow you to keep the largest share of it but you’ll need to think about his needs, earnings, joint pensions etc as well. If all needs can be met without the house you may be in a stronger position - if not be prepared that it will be used to secure a fair outcome