Can I wait him out on divorce and still keep my house?

[yesterdaystotalsteps123]

I have been married a year. After a series of awful events I realised I was being emotionally and financially abused and I need to get a divorce. He has moved out. I own my own home, he isn't on any paperwork and the amount he contributed to the household barely covered half the bills. I've asked him for the£550 to get an online divorce but he's nastily refused. Can I just wait him out or will the longer we are officially married mean he will have any claim on my house? We have no children together and he isn't contributing anything anymore. Thank you

If you can afford it just pay it and get it done. You want the divorce so you pay for it

You really, really need to see a solicitor.

Property and divorce can be a tricky thing. Often what happens in one divorce can be drastically different from what happens in another.

Get some legal advice. Most solicitors do a free 30 mins in front as a consultation. Go prepared with questions and get most out of it. Also you can do this a few times while you trial solicitors - I did this to get free advice.

I would get the ball moving and pay the money - it will be the best £550 you spend.

Also - not sure where no fault divorces landed with the rule changes but when I divorced a few years ago for unreasonable behaviour you need six claims and they needed to be within a 6 month period of when you were divorcing.

Ok thank you. I just really resent paying as I have a low income and can't afford it and he has taken me for a mug financially. But he's made it clear he has no intention of paying so I guess I'm going to have to suck it up. His mo is love bombing, impregnating, marrying as quickly as possible and as I have zero intention of getting married I thought his next girlfriend (victim) might pressure him into divorce. Not that I would wish it on her obvs

You can apply for fee remission when you issue the divorce petition. Depending on your income the fee might be reduced.

Did you live together before marriage and for how long?

You need a really good solicitor - given your circumstances, it will be the best investment you've ever made. I would file as soon as possible in order to endure the marriage is as short as possible for settlement purposes.

2 years before marriage. He can't show he has an investment as he was unemployed for some of that and he got a large redundancy that he hid from me before we were married. Thanks I'll speak to a solicitor.

Wishing you well.

Lawyers are expensive. But not as costly as having to sell that house! Property is worth protecting!

A short marriage is in your favour, especially if the cohabiting period is also limited. Will he leave your house?

You should be in a position to walk away with what each of you brought to the marriage.

Definitely divorce however seek advice as you would have to divorce him for unreasonable behaviour as under 2 years separation.

The unreasonable behaviour part should be no problem. He brought nothing financially to the marriage and hid his redundancy money. I wondered if I just did it online and paid the£550 fee if I would also need a financial order?

Yes. You need to get a Clean Break Order on the finances. Save your money now and issue online yourself. Then get a lawyer to help when you need the financial order.