If your ex husband refused to communicate with about your divorce ..

[MaLarkinn]

What happened when you sent the divorce papers?

Separated in 2014, he's not seen the children since then, I've been paying mortgage since with no contributions from him.

Has not paid a penny in maintenance either.

He sent the children some Easter eggs and the despatch note had his home address on it so will be sending divorce papers asap.

My biggest fear is I send the papers and he forces the sale of the house.

All I want from this is to keep my house. I will never get another mortgage so need to keep this house!

Why hasn't he paid maintenance? Couldn't the CMS find him?

I've only recently got an address for him

You needs some legal advice pronto. Try CAB divorce pages or the Rights of Women, and start putting aside some money for a solicitor. If he owns half the house you have been protecting his asset...

You do realise he can take his half of the house at any time - even after you've paid off the mortgage on your own?
I would tackle this, I couldn't live with the uncertainty.

@unforgotten23 I absolutely realise this. I had no choice when children were smaller as we had to live somewhere and my mortgage was cheaper than renting. They are obviously older, youngest going to secondary this year and I've gotten better paid jobs as the years have gone by.

I just don't want to send my divorce papers and him retaliate by trying to sell the house. He's a nasty bastard.

You need legal advice - have you had any so far?

I would say you do not improve your circumstances by delaying formalizing the split, as the children get older any proportion of split changes. Courts are interested in the needs of the children of the marriage being met, is the house more than you need? What is your prospect of buying him out subject to adjustments for maintenance and costs?

Get legal advice ASAP. You can prove your mortgage payments so those should come out of any assets. Is there much equity? What’s his share worth?

See a solicitor ASAP

Another one saying you need legal advice fast. You need to get in front of this before he springs it on you.

Can you afford to buy him out?

You need to see if you would be able to remortgage it on your own and you need to speak to a solicitor. Your payments would be taken into account when dividing up the assets.

You need legal advice then.

He can't sell the house from underneath you whilst you've got dependent children living with you.

Also you need to contact the cms and put a claim in against him for maint.

Also speak to a solicitor about the divorce and that way you will know what you are, and aren't entitled to.