Divorce Basics

[Qwerty654321]

Hi

DH has recently quit his job (£270k per year) and is sitting round the house gaming. Yep, it’s true.

I havent been happy for a while. We’ve been married 11 years. We have two children 7 and 9.

When we got married, we earnt the same. I then stayed a home and did various part time jobs over the years to fit in with childcare. He kept earning. He piled hundreds of thousands into his savings account and his pension. £1m plus in total.

I am fine working when we split. It will be hard, but I can do it. For the assets that have been accrued during the marriage, is it usually a 50/50 split?

thanks

50/50 is the starting point, but it can be departed from on a ‘needs’ basis.

if one party’s needs can’t be met with 50% then there is a case to argue for more. But ‘needs’ can be interpreted quite broadly in the courts.

you can also argue some things aren’t matrimonial in nature, such an inheritance that hasn’t been mingled with matrimonial funds, gifts etc.

you will have a claim over his pension.

without knowing the assets in total it’s hard to give more succinct advice :)

he will be expected to go back to work if that is his earning capacity. He won’t be able to successfully argue he needs more of the matrimonial funds because he wants to sit around gaming all day.

Do you think he might be depressed?

Yes the pendulum starts at 50/50 if its been a long marriage.
Get bank statements etc now to prove what's there. As he could spend it.