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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

Help with finding strength

110 replies

Worried1981 · 05/08/2020 20:07

I have posted here a couple of times about my marriage and got some really good advice . My husband is verbally abusive and will swear , call me names and become aggressive during arguments . He has also broken things in anger in front of the DC. I know I need to leave for my children’s sake . My name is on the house although I didn’t contribute towards this . My problem is when I try and discuss separating he becomes angry and tells me I should be prepared for a war . His family are very very wealthy and he could get an expensive lawyer . I am so scared of losing custody of my children . He calls me mental etc and I am not fit to have them . I am currently a stay at home mum and desperately looking fir work . I have been a stay at home mum since my first child was born 8 years ago as DH works long hours and I do all the childcare . Lockdown has been horrendous . Please could someone advise me how much a good family solicitor is likely to cost ? Given he is going to make things very difficult . Thanks so much for any advice .

OP posts:
Daftapath · 14/08/2020 09:30

As he is self employed, he may try to avoid child maintenance. This is why you need a shl (shit hot lawyer), to be able to fight your corner ... and as much cash as possible to keep you going.

The house is owned by you and not rented? That will be an asset that he cannot deny at least. Is it mortgaged?

Worried1981 · 15/08/2020 12:01

Thanks , the solicitor mentioned something about a lump sum if he is self employed. We jointly own the house . He has been strangely calm recently which is making me feel guilty and he has also booked something fun for the kids to do with him. I have logged incidents so I look through when I am having doubts . I also think about all the horrible days out and holidays . I do know deep down this is the right thing to do though but as soon as it’s out I am going to get a lot of pressure from him and mother in law . My solicitor is really efficient and said she would have petition ready by Monday as I am going away for a few days with the kids next week ...it’s happening very fast ! I nearly blurted it all out yesterday and then I had a massive wave of anxiety , I had to deep breath and I went really pale 😮😮 it’s so hard ..,.

OP posts:
Worried1981 · 23/08/2020 12:11

Just wondering if anyone has been through a similar experience with their ex ... he is now aware that I have started the process ( although he hasn’t received petition yet ) he is denying he has called me hurtful names and says he will speak to a solicitor ! I can’t believe he is denying it . He has also said he will get my head tested .. nice !
Anyway he will probably try and threaten to take the children full time . Does anyone have any advice as to how I can handle this ?thank you

OP posts:
crunchiebabe · 23/08/2020 12:45

My ex said the same ...
We are always mad and they will take our children ...
it doesn't matter what he says or thinks anymore .
These are threats and yet another attempt to control you. Mine still tries that now .. but I stamp on it immediately ... he has no power over me anymore , he knows it and it cuts him up .
Let him say whatever he wants , he is abusive and the children can verify that.
Please try and avoid , he said , she said .., that can go on and on.
What matters is the evidence. If he raises his voice or behaves in a threatening manner toward you or the children please do not hesitate to call the police , get it logged immediately. Think about whether you and the children can remain safely in the home during the process ... he really does need to move out.

Worried1981 · 23/08/2020 15:37

Thanks . It does make me anxious as he has all the money for legal costs . He is just going to make things as difficult as possible 🙄

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Worried1981 · 28/08/2020 08:25

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience to me . So he got the petition yesterday and he was immediately verbal abusive which I was expecting but he is saying I am lying about the unreasonable behaviour and I need an assessment as I am clearly a pathological liar ! And how I am not having the kids . How do I get through this ? We are still living together . Has anyone else’s ex reacted like this ?

OP posts:
Worried1981 · 28/08/2020 12:11

Bumping

OP posts:
Worried1981 · 28/08/2020 12:11

Would women’s aid be able to help with this ? If I call solicitor again my bill will be sky high

OP posts:
Dery · 28/08/2020 12:40

Please call Women's Aid. They will be able to give you support. You should also find lots of helpful information on their website. I've not been through this personally but many posters have and some will be along in due course to share their personal experiences.

And please ignore what he keeps saying about taking the children away from you. As PP said - this is what abusive fathers say - he's trying to terrorise you into backing down. He knows he can hurt you most by threatening your access to the children. But he's lying and he will say whatever he thinks will scare you into backing down. And he will of course deny that he has abused you. In his eyes, he can do no wrong so don't expect him to admit to any wrongdoing. Don't expect him to help you with this process in any way.

Custody of the children is not up to him. There may be a few countries where the mother has no rights and the father calls all the shots but that is simply not the case in the UK (assuming you're here). The default position will be shared custody (not necessarily 50/50 but some variant of that) between the parents unless it can be shown that one parent poses a real threat to the health and safety of the children and serious evidence is required to show this. The courts take a great deal of persuading that a parent should not have any access to the children. Since you have been the primary carer, the children will almost certainly be based with you and go to him every other weekend and one night a week or something similar. Remember that since you have been primary carer, you have the advantage over him in any discussion as to how custody should be arranged.

Think about it logically - he's been prepared to let you do 90% of the childcare so how can he possibly say now that you're not fit to have the children? Similarly, you're a fully functioning adult - he can't just get you mentally assessed against your will and again there are no grounds: if he had been concerned about your sanity, he wouldn't have let you do 90% of the childcare. It's all bollocks, OP, designed to scare you into backing down so please, please ignore those threats. And please realise that you have rights, too. Not just him.

And as @crunchiebabe said: do consider whether you and the DC can safely remain in the house while this process is going on. Some parents manage to cohabit while separating but for others it's impossible. If he refuses to leave (and it's not easy to get someone out of the house against their will - the courts are unlikely to grant an occupation order without giving him the opportunity to contest it), then you may need to think about moving somewhere else. Is there somewhere you could go?

Worried1981 · 28/08/2020 13:03

Thank you Dery, this is so helpful and has made me feel better . I will try and call women’s aid later but it’s tricky as I have my two dc with me and he is upstairs . I know I need to stay strong as he is going to make things very difficult . Thanks again

OP posts:
username501 · 28/08/2020 13:35

Of course he's going to lie OP. It doesn't sound like your solicitor has DV experience if they're telling you he won't contest. Abuser LOVE to contest and make your life hell; they love dragging you through court and making you suffer.

I would contact FLOWS who can give you free legal advice and help you find a solicitor with dv experience. Second, you may be entitled to legal aid if it's a DV case but your solicitor would have explained that.

Start gathering evidence: texts, phone messages, write down threats he's made. Keep a log for evidence.

Sort yourself out with a grab bag so you can get away if he escalates. Do not abandon the family home if you possibly can.

Get in contact with your local DV organisation for help.
Get in contact with FLOWS for legal advice and a different solicitor
Organise a grab bag of stuff for you and the children in case you have to flee (contact the National Helpline for advice on that: 0808 2000 247)

I assume your solicitor has advised you to make copies of all documents you'll need for the divorce: pension, wages, house valuation etc etc

username501 · 28/08/2020 13:39

If it's difficult to use the phone you have other options:

email - you can email FLOWS and your local dv org
go to a pharmacy under the UK says no more scheme Morrisons pharmacy, Boots, Superdrug are all part of the scheme, there may be others so look up your area on the link. You can use their phone to make calls.
Live chat - the national dv helpline has live chat

Worried1981 · 28/08/2020 13:52

Thanks for all the advice . It did say on the website that my solicitor does have dv experience . She did say he won’t contest it if he seeks legal advice as 95% of solicitors would advise against this. I will look up the websites you have mentioned . Thanks again , it’s really helpful

OP posts:
Dery · 28/08/2020 13:54

@Worried1981 - you're welcome! Sorry you're going through this at all but I'm glad you found my post helpful. Username's given you great practical advice including places where you can go to make phone calls if need be.

And it's true that it's best if you can remain in the family home. Do you have any family members or friends who could come and live with you for a while? I know of someone who was withdrawing from a relationship with an emotionally abusive spouse whose brother moved in with them for a few weeks. It helped keep things civil and practical.

username501 · 28/08/2020 14:00

They don't contest because it's better for them not to, they contest to further abuse you. If she doesn't know that, then I'd be wary of her DV experience. Abusive men will drag you in and out of court until they are financially crippled because they want to continue to control you. They are now changing the family court system partly because of this

Get a cheap secret phone on a rolling SIM as well. Keep it hidden in case he takes your phone again.

Stop discussing this with him OP. He's not going to suddenly see sense and start treating you with respect. All you're doing is further enraging him. Get advice on safety.

Jayaywhynot · 28/08/2020 14:01

This isn't Victorian times, he cant get you mentally assessed, hes gaslighting you.
You need to make a record of all instances when he is abusing you and saying nonsense like that.
Remember you were not mentally challenged when he needed you to raise his DC.
If you end up in court, remember the courts have heard it all before and are capable sifting out the BS.
Go to the GP but be careful as he may try to use that against you.
Hes a bully, keep your head down, be smart, make plans on the QT, he wont be expecting you to have a backbone and fight back.

username501 · 28/08/2020 14:06

As above, don't believe that he's going to get you sectioned - hilarious. It's almost impossible to get someone sectioned now because the mental health care system is on its knees. They don't have the beds for seriously ill and dangerous people, never mind some freak who wants his wife locked up like Blue Beard. Ignore.

Worried1981 · 28/08/2020 15:08

I know . If my solicitor has sent him a draft petition can he contest it and send his own ? I wouldn’t put it past him at all as I think he hates the fact I have got some control over this

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Worried1981 · 28/08/2020 20:36

Thanks very much for the helpful advice , I appreciate it .
I have an old phone on my bedside table so he thinks that’s my working phone should he want to take it away again ! I put my actual phone under my pillow .

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Worried1981 · 04/09/2020 14:13

Hi all,
So just to update you . After the verbal abuse when he received the petition he has been quite calm , he seems to be trying to get more involved with the kids so I am wondering what he is planning . Anyway his solicitor sent an email to my solicitor asking for us not to send the petition to court yet ... anyone have any advice ? This is so stressful, I am really on edge the entire time 🙄

OP posts:
username501 · 04/09/2020 14:17

I'm not surprised you're on edge, sounds very tense. At least he's stopped chasing you around with a butterfly net.

I would get advice from your solicitor.

Worried1981 · 04/09/2020 14:26

My solicitor said it’s good he has got legal advice as it may make him more reasonable. I am expecting him to tell his solicitor I am lying about it all. He asked to take the kids to a club on Monday which he has NEVER done ...I really don’t want 50/50 as I don’t think he can meet their needs with his job but now he is working at home I am worried .. bloody covid

OP posts:
username501 · 04/09/2020 14:30

Just keep doing what you're doing OP, you're doing really well. Look into counselling which you can find at BACP as a place to vent and help you process what's going on. I assume you've contacted your local DV service for advice and support, so just keep in contact with them if you're worried.

crunchiebabe · 04/09/2020 14:55

Watch him like a hawk ...
Do not trust him...
You are doing so well, it's hard , but you will get there.
All this being hands on ... it's an act ...

timeisnotaline · 04/09/2020 15:16

Remember op, when he says these things about getting sectioned, that every hour of every day of every week of every year since the oldest was born, his actions say he trusts you to care for his children. Because he knows you’re both perfectly sane and a good mother. What is he going to tell a judge against that?
Do you have the childrens passports etc somewhere safe? It’s hard to know what he will do next. Have you spoken to womens aid yet? And push on your solicitor that he won’t care if it’s not in his interests, he will fight it to hurt you. If she doesn’t get that it’s a concern.
Why would you delay? To help him? He’s not on your side, I wouldn’t delay.

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