Just received solicitor’s email

[KnottedStomach]

I just received an email from a solicitor saying thanks for our chat yesterday (we didn’t chat). It was sent to me and DH. It sounds like he was trying to get finances in order before initiating a split. He talked about protecting his death in service benefit, trying to say that he contributed to my parents house (untrue) and trying to protect that money. We lent them 40% of the amount he says he gave and they have already paid half back.

I replied to the solicitor copying in DH. I’m in bed with Coronavirus. He’s upstairs working. I’m waiting for a massive showdown and I’m scared.

I don’t think he would hurt me but he’s very intelligent, persuasive and can be verbally aggressive/insistent.

I’m really scared.

Trust your gut feeling on this.

Seek separate legal advice.

Lots of people do wills jointly so still think it was just that and £250k might have been a typo for £25k. Have a look at whether the email was to the husband cc'd to the wife or sent to both and see if it were from a proper solicitor or someone who is not a solicitor. Check the firm on-line too.

@hopeisnotastrategy

The solicitor thought something was fishy and somehow found the means to copy you in.

If you are informed by some sort of professional experience you cannot possibly think a solicitor would do this?!

I did exactly this to my husband when I was planning on leaving him. Got a will sorted, arranged what would happen to my kids and he didn't know any of it until he snooped through my private paperwork.

Since some of you are clearly intent on making up your own version of the OP’s opening post there is little point the rest of us making a contribution.

Being very rude and bitchy does not make you right.

He’s not in the wrong at all OP. I work in wills and what he’s doing is perfectly normal. I would suggest the £250k is a typo, especially as your name is incorrectly spelled at times.

You need to separate the need to protect estates from your relationship issues.

I think once things get back to 'normal' it will be wise to get both your wills sorted out and the financial situation clearly documented and agreed on. This gives everyone some protection and peace of mind. Best to just get it done because if you do separate in the future things can get very nasty, and expensive, if it all has to sorted out via a solicitor.

Honestly, if just sounds like he spoke to a crap solicitor about making a will. I’m not saying he’s not considering a divorce, just that his explanation seems more plausible than him picking a completely incompetent (as opposed to run if the mill crap) divorce lawyer.

What a mess. What was the situation re the money lent to your parents? We have given money for property and had to sign documentation for the mortgage company saying that it is absolutely not a loan therefore if this is the case with you he has no claim to any money in the house at all. If the house was a cash purchase then yes he can expect his 25k back which I should think it wise to try to give him back ASAP. Surely there will be bank statements documenting the outgoing of the money and then some of it returning.
Ultimately it sounds as though the marriage id broken down and there's no trust so I would seek legal advice for yourself.