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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

Still divorcing

22 replies

55Ruby · 11/09/2023 05:38

Hello, i wanted to give an update on my situation and hope to be able to read some comments to make me snap out of my emotional mess /advice.
I'm going through a divorce while DH is still living in the house. He goes through phases of ignoring me or making very small conversations about our DD (19).
He had an EA almost 3 yrs ago with a female 30 yrs younger than him who worked in the eastern european office - they have never met. The EA lasted almost 2 yrs and he blames me for it ending (i used to talk to the OW..she used to beg me to not leave him but she would keep talking to him - i spent too much time telling her to leave him alone when i should have let him go).
The divorce dragged on because he ignored solicitor letters and until he had to respond.
During the last 6 months, my father passed away, i was diagnosed with womb cancer and am now recovering from a hystercomy. He has given me no more than 1% support during all this, when i came out of hospital, i was told 6-8 weeks recovery..after 2 days odmf being at home, i had to make my own meals because he didnt speak to me for 3 days. He told oue DD he would look after me becausw she was abroad.
Im 5 weeks post operation and am moving around fine and can cook/clean for myself.
We've tried to remain civil towards each other over the last few months as DD is going to Uni next week.
We argue over the divorce settlememt and he keeps.callimg me a golddigger so i would like to ask you all to tell.me if i am..
We have been married 27 yrs, he purchased the house 8 years before we married. When i moved in, i said we should split all the bills..incl the.mortgage 50-50. He said no, i've been paying it, you pay for everything else. I paid for food shopping, council tax, gas, electric, broadband, landline, Sky TV, making the house into a home (bedding, master bed, etc 90% of the contenys of the house has been paid by me) when DD was born, i paid nursery fees, and then school fees, uniform, kids play dates, after school clubs etc. When DD was born, i took 7 months maternity leave and then dropped to a 4 day week and a few years later to a 3 day week. We have had 2 big house modernisations during my 27yrs here, and the first one i contributed to a lot (before DD was born) and the last one (9 yrs ago) we took out a loan which he paid back. We also purchased a flat in 2008 which jas been rented out and managed by DH - the money to pay for this was raised on our home and the rent was to help towards the increased.mortgage payments.
I was made redundant 11 years ago amd have since worked freelance from hom earning less money but i was able to cover DD school holidays and sick days.
I have said i want to live in the family home, and DD wants to be here when she comes back from Uni, he does not want me to buy him out (because he does not trust me) but wants to keep the home and jointly owned by both of us and he wants 100% of the money from selling the flat, he will pay off the mortgage and wants the balance to buy himself a flat. He wants notning else from me. Is this fair? I say no because he will have 1.5 properties and i will have half of the marital home. Am i a golddigger??

OP posts:
machinescanthink · 11/09/2023 05:42

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machinescanthink · 11/09/2023 05:43

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55Ruby · 11/09/2023 05:44

Sorry for length of the post...i wanted to make sure all the details were given.
He is very nasty to me when i ask him any questions he does not want to answer, if i talk about his EA or ask him if he has any remorse over what he did the past 3 years - he claims to have not been happy for 20 years, and even when i suggest marriage counselling / try to make the marriage work he tells.me it does not work for him and he does not want to give it a go. If i dont accept this, he tells.me to go away, stop talkimg, leave him alone or he cant stand the sound.of.my voice. Every conversation i have with him results in me crying and him not bothered.

OP posts:
55Ruby · 11/09/2023 05:46

We both have solicitors...i wanted to know if what i am askimg ia unreasonable....we are soon to exchange our Form E's

OP posts:
55Ruby · 11/09/2023 05:48

@machinescanthink i am asking for peoples opinions..is what im asking making me a golddigger?

OP posts:
RecycleMePlease · 11/09/2023 05:49

27 years, you have made significant financial contributions, 50/50 (on both properties) seems perfectly fair to me personally (what's the pension situation? That would skew my thoughts if one has significantly more than the other)

What's the relative value? If you sold the flat how much would that leave for you to buy him out of the house with? Would that be enough for him to get a new flat for himself? Not that this is your responsibility - you need to detach - you're not going to get answers now, so concentrate on getting a fair settlement instead.

Bansheed · 11/09/2023 05:51

You go for half. It is reasonable.

I was married for 17 years. I had helped with the deposit but Ex DH had covered all the housing. When we separated I got a good job.

We went to an FDR ( mini court). I was awarded half, which I had asked for. ExDH was trying to give me 30%.

Half is fair. You could force a sale of the properties to do so. Staying in the same house is not key. The dissolution of the marriage and assets are.

jeaux90 · 11/09/2023 05:54

The only other thing to consider is yours and his pensions. If he had a significantly higher pot he wants to protect this is your leverage to get more than 50% of capital from the property.

Not a gold digger at all, hope you have decent legal advice.

55Ruby · 11/09/2023 06:00

Our pensions are not that great, the flat was meant to be for our retirement

OP posts:
TheClitterati · 11/09/2023 06:04

You are in no way whatsoever a gold digger op.

machinescanthink · 11/09/2023 06:07

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machinescanthink · 11/09/2023 06:08

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TheClitterati · 11/09/2023 06:09

It's really hard as you are living in the same house. You need to focus on detaching from him. You need to know there is no need to argue with him - you can choose not to argue. Just don't do it - walk away, go to different room etc. He has nothing for you & after all this time he's not got any answers for you. You will feel much better for detachment.

Leave it to your solicitors.

I wish you a swift and fair divorce

Buildingthefuture · 11/09/2023 06:21

Based on what you have written then no, I would in no way consider you a gold digger. I would however consider that, after 27 years, he knows how to push your buttons and how to hurt you and THAT is why he is saying it. It’s ironic really…what did he think Miss Eastern Europe, 30 years his junior, was after? His sparkling personality and witty repartee?? I doubt it!!!!

Hopinghonestly · 11/09/2023 07:25

No he is unreasonable. 50/50 FULL STOP. Dont be left tied to this man.

I have more assets then my partner..i will always expect 50/50 whatever. We both need to be as stable as possible if we divorce to ensure our childs needs are met. Im not going to let my daughter watch her father live in a hole. I think this view should be for mothers too. I get so mad when fathers do this to mothers, why on earth do you want your children to watch any parent struggle? It indirectly hurts them.

You are not a gold digger..all men seem to throw this around to soothe their egos. My first BF (i was 18) used this when i was paying for him as he was a bum..i laughed out the door.

machinescanthink · 11/09/2023 07:35

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stealthninjamum · 11/09/2023 07:47

Op of course you’re not a gold digger.

He sounds dreadful and will be using words to upset you and it sounds like he’s found one. It’s a very long marriage so who puts what in is largely irrelevant and you have lost career prospects by doing the bulk of the childcare.

fwiw I was ‘only’ married for 20 years and have no issue with taking my half and may end up with 60% to reflect the damage to my career. Things are largely amicable with my ex as he at least recognises my contribution to childcare.

jsku · 11/09/2023 11:05

@55Ruby
Been through divorce with a difficult Ex.
He is doing/saying/acting like a majority of men i have seen going through divorce - that have a long marriage and assets involved.

Men try intimidate and manipulate women. They somehow devalue your contribution that is part financial, part childcare and household management, etc.

Luckily - law is quite clear on this. Its a long marriage. Marital home is 50/50. So are other assets accumulated during marriage - so that extra flat, savings.
Pensions - bit more nuanced.

I lived with ex through 2 years of acrimonious divorce. So did a few friends.
My advice:

  • Don’t try to negotiate directly with him
  • Don’t try to convince him of what you think is fair. He is too angry to be able to see your pov. And unlikely to ever
  • Don’t dredge up old arguments. Leave the EA in the past
  • Take care if yourself. Buckle up and don’t give up even if he is making it hard - law is on your side. Just wait, don’t go the ‘easier way’ - this is what they hope you’d do and agree to an unfair settlement
  • don't be afraid to go to court, or at least saying you’ll go to court . You are not in a rush. And often men like this don’t become reasonable and realistic until they have no choice and they realise you mean business
Opentooffers · 11/09/2023 11:30

Don't buy him out of the house, sell it and have half the equity. Are you asking for half of all the childcare costs you've paid over the years? He got 2 DC's for free as far as I can tell. Better check on his pension details- he might claim there's not much, but if he's a high earner there will be possibly more than he's admitting to.
Half the flat is yours, it's your pension too and the equity on the house is less because he bought the flat - that is not your problem.
Leave it to your solicitors, anything up to 50 % certainly does not make you a gold digger. It is half of everything that is the rule - half cars, half savings, half of everything. Whatever he says meantime is just sour grapes and noise.

jsku · 11/09/2023 15:30

@55Ruby

Also wanted to add. When people divide assets in divorce - they often have strong emotional attachments to what happens. Marital home is often fiercely fought for - as a symbol; as a place where kids grew up; as a prized possession.
But its not often that its worth giving up on a fair settlement while trying to win on that.

I think if kids are small - having that consistency of their house does make sense. So - fighting for ‘THE home’ is more understandable.

But - as long as you get a fair share of all assets - and means to get your own place for you and your daughter - a new home could be a great new start in life.

adriftabroad · 11/09/2023 16:11

Ha ha ha, my STBXH said exactly the same. I now do not speak to him. I have also "only" been married for 20 years.(He claimed 15!)

You have been married for 27 years! Of course you will get half. It is hard to ignore his words...but they are just words. (He has likely been told this 50% by his lawyer too and is furious)

Do not try and negotiate with your husband.

olderbutwiser · 11/09/2023 16:22

Your divorce will probably go a lot easier if you are prepared to sell the family home and start afresh. If you're in the situation where you need him to agree the selling price to you it puts him in a strong negotiating position. And absolutely do not get yourself in a position where you are living long term in a house that is 50% his.

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