How to leave when you have nothing

[Enroljas]

I have name changed for this.

I am 60. Husband of 40 years is 70. We are living off Husbands pension at mo. I had a full time job until I was involved in a terrible RTA 6 years ago. Not my fault and I was awarded £30,000 damages because I suffered physical injuries which meant I could no longer work.

Husband bought himself a new car out of my awarded finances and the rest we have lived on so there is hardly anything left.

Husband has become very selfish over the past 6 years. It is honestly like living with a toddler and I can’t stick it any longer.

I really need to leave, without going into great detail. Can anyone tell me how to leave please? Where would I live and how would I live? I really am desperate but see no way out. Anyone? Please? I really need to leave but have no idea how

I'm sure you will find lots of brilliant advice here and others will have some good ideas about what you may be entitled to, but in the meantime what is your current housing situation?

Is your mortgage paid off? If you were to divorce him and sell the house and split the proceeds, would that give you enough to buy somewhere small for yourself?

Do you have friends and family that are able to support you in leaving him?

Sorry to hear this. First step is to get some legal advice so you can better understand your options in terms of house etc.

Find a solicitor that does 30 min free and see what you're entitled to. A marriage that long they'd most likely outline evidence of what you e contributed. You may get more than you have in mind.

This is the very first step imo as you can then see what you're likely to get and therefore able to afford once you've left the marriage so can start estimating plans around how your life will be after leaving him.

Thank you for replies. Mortgage is paid off. I have no family or friends who are in a position to let me stay with them for any length of time. I should think it would take a while until the marriage is dissolved, house sold and finances sorted. The house is worth around £150,000 so even if I received half I wouldn’t be able to afford a property outright. Maybe I could rent though? I will make an appointment to see a solicitor to find out how I stand. Thank you

OP, have you checked if you are eligible for ESA or PIP? That would give you some cash coming in.

Make an appointment with Citizens Advice, they are also helpful and free. Find out what you're entitled to before you leave, and good luck, it can be done