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Relationships

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

DH Affair. How do I cope with family holiday?

1000 replies

EmmaThompsonsTears · 01/06/2025 15:23

New account in case outing.

I’ve just found out in the last 24 hours that my husband has been having an affair for the last 9 months at least.
2 DCs - 4 & 18m.

He doesn’t know I know. I plan to keep it that way so I can see a solicitor and sort out finances. But we leave for a family holiday tomorrow, and I feel like I’m going to explode.

How can I get through this week? Hand hold needed. Any advice welcome.

I’ve been lurking on these threads for a while and felt in my gut I was a victim of The Script. Checked his phone while he was asleep and I was right. Please help.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 11/06/2025 14:58

HuskyNew · 11/06/2025 14:32

Divorce is a business negotiation. You need a solicitor that knows their stuff and can dispassionately argue your case. The “cause” of the divorce is actualy irrelevant- the judge wont care he’s an affair, just that the needs of both parties and the children are being fairly met.

Emotional support comes from friends or a therapist.

I came on to say this - I see several others have also made this point.

I'm in Ireland, so the process is very different and a solicitor (and at a certain point, a barrister) is required.

I had a very messy road to my divorce, it ultimately took 10 years, much of due to how my ex managed to play the system, as part of his abusive behaviour.

I really wish I'd understood earlier the importance of a good, local, practical and direct solicitor who is used to the daily ins-and-outs of family law (for complicated reasons, I had a solicitor from a large national firm who really only dealt with high-net worth cases (definitely not my situation!) and who was very poor on procedure, and failed to understand my needs; and I was so emotionally distraught that I was unable to communicate them.

I agree too that the 'cause' is irrelevant - except in terms of behaviour prediction. For example, it's standard here that as part of the divorce agreement, medical, dental, educational costs will be split 50:50 between both parties. I tried in vain to make the point that my ex would be highly unlikely to ever stick to this, and it would be pointless trying to bring him back to court to enforce it. I argued for a better monthly maintenance instead - but wasn't successful.

After my divorce, as there were still a lot of matters to be sorted out, I had a different, more junior solicitor assigned to my case. She was so much better. Practical, responded properly, did what she was asked. My original (male) solicitor actually traumatised me further with his supercilious, misogynistic behaviour.

EarringsandLipstick · 11/06/2025 15:01

To add, in terms of legal advice, do ensure you are thinking ahead as much as you can. Again, I know the situation in the UK is quite different (e.g. CM etc) than in Ireland, but considering children's needs down the road, your likely employment path, when you are at the negotiation stage, if you do have any influence at that point, is really important. (I did the best with what I had to work with, but my children were pre-teen / early teen when I divorced, and I had not taken into account how much more expensive the later teen years would be, particularly educationally, and I may have held the line a bit more firmly if I had. Then again, I had limited options and was desperate to secure the house so that's what I prioritised and maybe that's all I could have done).

Rhaidimiddim · 11/06/2025 15:44

EmmaThompsonsTears · 11/06/2025 14:18

You’re all right. I think I was looking for a bit of an “oh my god, what a bastard” because I’ve barely told anyone IRL and I’m still looking for that validation - realistically it would be very unprofessional for a solicitor to do that 😂

I have a therapist for the CBT, which I’m having for the anxiety that was “ruining our relationship”. It’s NHS though so will only go on for another 6-8 weeks, or however long the treatment protocol is. She doesn’t do private which is very disappointing!

So next appointment, you can turn this around, recognise that it was DH's "ruining our relationship" that was causing your anxiety, and perhaps get some proper work done.

SoMauveMonty · 11/06/2025 16:16

HuskyNew · 11/06/2025 14:32

Divorce is a business negotiation. You need a solicitor that knows their stuff and can dispassionately argue your case. The “cause” of the divorce is actualy irrelevant- the judge wont care he’s an affair, just that the needs of both parties and the children are being fairly met.

Emotional support comes from friends or a therapist.

Yes, I'm not long divorced and what I thought would be a straightforward divorce turned out not to be - once money was involved supposedly oh-so-reasonable ex turned into a complete shit. My solicitor saved my bacon. She was forensic, compassionate but blunt about what i should focus on and what i should ignore....Ex kept throwing spanners in the works and for a while i felt like i was drowning but she kept me straight and ensured we ended up with a fair agreement (funnily enough, it was exactly the settlement i'd originally sought but ex argued the toss the whole way through. Hey ho.)
It wasn't cheap, but she ensured i got a fair split of assets and pensions, so in the long run it was money well spent.

Yellowpingu · 11/06/2025 16:25

OchreRaven · 11/06/2025 14:28

Just played this scenario out in my head

‘Oh H, my therapist has got to the bottom of my anxiety. Yes, apparently it’s a result of your infidelity and being a prick. Don’t worry she’s referred me to a specialist. I think they call them a solicitor.’

This! But don’t give all the credit to the therapist as it’s you who’s done all the hard work. Keep doing what you’re doing, OP.

ButItWasNotYourFaultButMine · 11/06/2025 16:28

Option 3

You don't want them to be emotional. You're emotional. You need them to be pragmatic and rational and ready to fight for your corner without letting emotions get in the way.

Whatwouldnanado · 11/06/2025 16:45

Another vote for option 3. Your friends and family will flock to provide support once the truth is known. He sounds a contemptible waste of space. Good luck. You will be fine.

FatherFrosty · 11/06/2025 17:20

EmmaThompsonsTears · 11/06/2025 13:04

Yes she is - she was chair of Resolution in a neighbouring county

I came here to ask the same.
dont forget she’s not going to give much emotion away at the moment. You might change your mind and go back to him, and you’ve not built a relationship yet.

I only came across your thread today. You’re doing so well. One thing stood out to me
“if I’d done something wrong like make the wrong lunch”

wtf?!? What’s the wrong lunch??! He’s spent years belittling you, making you second guess every decision. Regardless of affairs. He’s not the one, and your kids would have grown up seeing that’s how you treat someone.

loobyloo1979 · 11/06/2025 17:20

Another vote for option 3. She sounds like she'll be badass

IsItBeesThoughLooshkin · 11/06/2025 17:25

Do you even have to tell him how you know? What does it matter? Like others have said, you owe him nothing. Just tell him you know he is cheating on you, that you want a divorce and that there’s nothing to discuss.

Wastinmylifeaway · 11/06/2025 17:31

EmmaThompsonsTears · 11/06/2025 11:50

Ok so I’ve just spoken to option 3 and feeling pretty torn.

she was very upfront about cost, clearly a good egg and an experienced solicitor with 30 years under her belt. She told me she won’t just tell me what I want to hear - she’s tough love. Which is great.

option 3 is the only firm where I actually got to speak to who I’ll be working with. But also the only firm who weren’t quite as sympathetic. I’m not looking for a pity party but if the person has my back on an emotional level, and are on board with why I’m divorcing him, they might work harder to get what me and the kids need.

But that might just be the difference between talking to an experienced solicitor who’s heard much worse before, and a relatively new paralegal.

option 2 charges £400+ for an initial consultation with a senior solicitor at the firm.

what would you do?

Whenever a prospective solicitor would give me a head tilt and sympathy, they were NOT for me. They are not there to hurt you, they are not there to console you - its actually a useful trait when you are pulled / torn to have them 100% on your side without any pandering. I'd go with straight shooting non-emotional any day of the week. They are not your therapist, they are not your friend - but they are invested, for the right reasons.

SonofDeva · 11/06/2025 17:37

As a man, I am so sorry to hear what he has done to you. If you are going abroad, you can always 'lose', his passport just before you are about to board the plane back home. At least it will give a couple of days to put things in motion.....take care 😊

MissMoneyFairy · 11/06/2025 17:42

SonofDeva · 11/06/2025 17:37

As a man, I am so sorry to hear what he has done to you. If you are going abroad, you can always 'lose', his passport just before you are about to board the plane back home. At least it will give a couple of days to put things in motion.....take care 😊

They are back home and hiding someone's passport is not a great idea

Volpini · 11/06/2025 17:57

OP - what a kick ass Goddess you are.

i have (very fortunately) not been through this but surrounded by people who have or who are going through this.
From my vantage point at the sidelines, the more abuse someone has tolerated in a marriage, the more they need that kick ass lawyer. I dont think you will, but I would advise not to take the advice to do it yourself. The more kick ass the solicitor, the better.

One of my very dear friends had a very abusive husband who to this day denies his affair despite conducting it in full view. He refused to leave the house and essentially tried to starve her out. Emptied the accounts and gave her nothing to live on to force her to accept anything.
Her family supported her - it cost him in the end and she got what she needed for her and their kids.

option 3.

i wish you the absolute best - this is crap, but your future will be so much brighter without his dead weight.
x

Addictedtohotbaths · 11/06/2025 19:38

Jeregrettetous · 11/06/2025 13:01

Not a family law solicitor but definitely option 3. Is she registered with Resolution? Even better if so.

I picked someone who was a member of resolution. It made no difference because my ex DH hired a pitbull who clearly couldn’t care less about resolution and it’s principles.

I’d go for the option 3 that doesn’t sugar coat it and doesn’t tell you what you want to hear. That’s worth its wait in gold having honest pragmatic advice. I started with one that was very lead by me and promising me I should get x and then changed to a new solicitor that had a completely different view, gave me some hard truths and was very accurate with her assessment and outcome of what would be awarded by the court (and it went to court).

2025ismybestyear · 11/06/2025 20:00

@EmmaThompsonsTears my experience with my divorce lawyer. I also wanted some emotional support but I realised pretty quickly I pay for every minute I'm talking to them! I filed in October and was divorced by July. Cost nearly 12k.

notadrift · 11/06/2025 20:27

Get a divorce coach immediately. They cost barely nothing. I reccomend Nawal Houghton, a lawyer in high conflict divorce. 30 quid for half an hour I think - she cuts to the chase and is herself divorced with 2 boys, from a narcissist. Tons of free advice also.

You book a slot online to talk to her. I wish I had known about her before I got divorced. But will be using her when DD reaches 18.

I follow her on FB.

JuneJustRains · 11/06/2025 20:31

I have a friend going through the financial disclosure part of this at the moment and getting her H to give an honest account is like pulling teeth.

She has had to force disclosure by trawling through years of bank statements and pointing out payments into accounts that he's 'forgotten he had'.

I would see if you can at least get some written acknowledgement from your H that he has the crypto accounts before you drop the d word -- text him or similar, just to say 'should we be selling the crypto, do you think? Or are they doing well at the moment? Is it enough to fund a few rounds of couples counselling?'

Addictedtohotbaths · 11/06/2025 20:35

notadrift · 11/06/2025 20:27

Get a divorce coach immediately. They cost barely nothing. I reccomend Nawal Houghton, a lawyer in high conflict divorce. 30 quid for half an hour I think - she cuts to the chase and is herself divorced with 2 boys, from a narcissist. Tons of free advice also.

You book a slot online to talk to her. I wish I had known about her before I got divorced. But will be using her when DD reaches 18.

I follow her on FB.

That’s a great idea, I’ve never heard of this.

notadrift · 11/06/2025 20:45

No, me neither. I wish I had known earlier. She tells you what to instruct/ask your lawyer and sends templates and helps you to fill in all the forms.

chachahide · 11/06/2025 21:22

JuneJustRains · 11/06/2025 20:31

I have a friend going through the financial disclosure part of this at the moment and getting her H to give an honest account is like pulling teeth.

She has had to force disclosure by trawling through years of bank statements and pointing out payments into accounts that he's 'forgotten he had'.

I would see if you can at least get some written acknowledgement from your H that he has the crypto accounts before you drop the d word -- text him or similar, just to say 'should we be selling the crypto, do you think? Or are they doing well at the moment? Is it enough to fund a few rounds of couples counselling?'

This is a very good idea! Crypto accounts can be so easily hidden if he wanted to, but ime of people with bitcoin et al, they bloody love to talk about it!

Quashsquash · 11/06/2025 22:01

So much good advice (and another vote for Option 3 by the way!). Came on to say what I see a couple of PP have just said - it’s probably better to focus (a lot) less on how you tell him you know he’s been cheating (as others have said, the conversation will simply not go the way you expect it to go, and you’ll get bogged down in something that is emotionally important to you, but honestly irrelevant to your future) and to focus instead a lot more in pinning down that crypto account. Another thread on here about a woman who knew her husband was cheating, and he didn’t know she knew - she was the eagle, circling above. Be the eagle.

Icecreamsprinkle · 11/06/2025 22:10

Yet to comment on this but been coming here daily to check on you. Honestly, you’re going to be fine, it’s obvious from how you articulate yourself on here that you’re a likeable person with good intentions, I feel like you know this anyway but he’s really screwed up, what a tw*t. We didn’t have kids but my exh did similar 8 years ago, I divorced him (thought my life was over) and met the love of my life a short whilst after and now very happily married with 2 young children! I know that’s different to your story but I posted here and got so much advise and wisdom from fabulous people and I’m here cheering you on every step. You’re children are very lucky to have such a dedicated and focused mum, you’ve totally got this x

Greenfitflop · 11/06/2025 22:15

Worse than the infidelity is the gaslighting of you.
What a dishonorable dishonest prick.

BennyBee · 11/06/2025 22:32

I did my divorce online, no solicitor on either side. Totally amicable 30 minute conversation about kids, house, pension, savings on the phone. Done.

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