If husband works abroad and sends money to sahm in uk does anyone know what legal rights sahm has in a divorce?

[Kammee]

I am not asking for me. It’s a friend and I am only guessing the situation. I can see her unhappy and I am wondering if she is financially very vulnerable. If they were to separate, and he stayed abroad to work, it would not be possible for courts to impose any requests for payments? He is British. But works abroad at the moment.

She may be able to enforce payment if he is working abroad for a UK company. If he is employed abroad there is nothing they can do.

That’s what I thought. I am not entirely sure about who he works for. I think they are an international company with head office abroad but some offices in uk. I guess it is difficult to know

I was travelling once and one of the guys in the hostel told me whilst drinking that he was travelling the world partly to see it but also to avoid his wife. He obviously should have got divorced but decided instead to forget she exists.

This is tricky because even if a court was to rule in her favour how would they enforce it? Personally she needs to think about how she would survive if they were to split and start making plans.

Ultimately he may come back but if he doesn't then what can she do. Really we need to know more about are kids involved, mortgage, house paid of etc

I probably shouldn’t give too much info as it is not my situation to give that. But kids and mortgage are involved.
She hasn’t actually confided to me but has hinted once about it. And I wonder how I could support her to get to a more financially independent place.

Of course he may do the morally right thing and support the family regardless but you just never know

Depends whether he is ordinarily resident in the UK or has resident status in the other country, and also whether or not he is paid in the UK (via a UK payroll) in GBP, and asking subject to HMRC taxation or paid in the other country, in the local currency, and subject to their taxation.

Suggest to your friend that she post
Because she will be able to answer questions

It’s not clear cut and more information is needed

Also depends what countries are involved eg Australian authorities will take punitive measures to try to recover monies from NRP who attempt to not pay for their children.

Thanks. I have a few starter questions now if the subject does ever come up with her

Does she have a personal bank account and a joint one ?
Does she work ? Does she have a private pension ?
Does he have any private pensions from working in the UK ?

She doesn’t work. Not sure about the rest

She would need to think about how she would keep herself and the kids if it happened.

Yes it is a bit of a worry really

I am thinking about offering to help her with childcare so she can retrain

If she’s genuinely in a position where she believes she might be left high and dry with no financial help from the husband - and let’s face it it’s easy enough for that to happen when both parties are in the uk, let alone if he’s working abroad - then your offer to help her in that way sounds like a very good plan, and probably the only thing you can do that will genuinely help her. You’re a good friend.