Oldmanofthehill
Registered User
- Messages
- 3
Separation/Assets Advice needed please.
I'll be as brief as I can here - married 25 years, 3 children (two under 13, one in Uni). Owned a house in UK. I had a good well paid job, my wife earned half of my salary so I paid the mortgage and most of the bills. I had poor health and my wife wanted to move back to Ireland to be nearer her parents so persuaded me that we would be better off there - no mortgage and a bigger house. She would continue to work being a lot younger than me and I would be the househusband who didn't have to work. My small private employment pension would be used for essential travel back to the UK, family holidays, Christmas presents etc. We bought a house and my wife insisted it was solely registered in my name. I didn't know why and I never received real answers. I ploughed €40,000 of my pension lump sum into modernising the house and took a reduced monthly payment to do this.
8 years later we separated because of my wife's unreasonable behaviour which included not paying bills and stealing money from the children's bank accounts.
When confronted about this, she moved to her Mother's house and took the children with her. I have been left with numerous household debts to pay off and I am struggling living on my private pension (although my financial position will be soon improved from my share in a family inheritance). My wife immediately talked of selling and splitting the house 50-50.
I have since found out that she owns her Mother's house and it is solely in her name, having taken out a mortgage for her Mother 20 years ago. I don't know who paid this mortgage but since her Mother and deceased Father were pensioners I find it difficult to believe that my wife didn't contribute.
I have legal access to the children and they stay with me regularly at weekends and holidays.
Both houses are large enough to accommodate a family, with the house in my wife's name (a 4 bedroom modern bungalow) being worth two thirds of the one in my name (a 4 bedroom detached).
My wife and I are attending Mediation over Assets soon and I haven't a clue where I stand legally. I know that she has hidden the fact that she owns the house that she now lives in with her Mother and our children.
I can't find anything on the net where a separation and sharing assets involves two houses. Free legal advice from a Solicitor was vague and not helpful.
My main questions if Mediation doesn't work are:-
Will I be forced into selling what was the main family home by a Judge in Court?
Will my wife be forced to sell her's too?
Is a Judge likely to consider any of the circumstances I've outlined above?
I'll be as brief as I can here - married 25 years, 3 children (two under 13, one in Uni). Owned a house in UK. I had a good well paid job, my wife earned half of my salary so I paid the mortgage and most of the bills. I had poor health and my wife wanted to move back to Ireland to be nearer her parents so persuaded me that we would be better off there - no mortgage and a bigger house. She would continue to work being a lot younger than me and I would be the househusband who didn't have to work. My small private employment pension would be used for essential travel back to the UK, family holidays, Christmas presents etc. We bought a house and my wife insisted it was solely registered in my name. I didn't know why and I never received real answers. I ploughed €40,000 of my pension lump sum into modernising the house and took a reduced monthly payment to do this.
8 years later we separated because of my wife's unreasonable behaviour which included not paying bills and stealing money from the children's bank accounts.
When confronted about this, she moved to her Mother's house and took the children with her. I have been left with numerous household debts to pay off and I am struggling living on my private pension (although my financial position will be soon improved from my share in a family inheritance). My wife immediately talked of selling and splitting the house 50-50.
I have since found out that she owns her Mother's house and it is solely in her name, having taken out a mortgage for her Mother 20 years ago. I don't know who paid this mortgage but since her Mother and deceased Father were pensioners I find it difficult to believe that my wife didn't contribute.
I have legal access to the children and they stay with me regularly at weekends and holidays.
Both houses are large enough to accommodate a family, with the house in my wife's name (a 4 bedroom modern bungalow) being worth two thirds of the one in my name (a 4 bedroom detached).
My wife and I are attending Mediation over Assets soon and I haven't a clue where I stand legally. I know that she has hidden the fact that she owns the house that she now lives in with her Mother and our children.
I can't find anything on the net where a separation and sharing assets involves two houses. Free legal advice from a Solicitor was vague and not helpful.
My main questions if Mediation doesn't work are:-
Will I be forced into selling what was the main family home by a Judge in Court?
Will my wife be forced to sell her's too?
Is a Judge likely to consider any of the circumstances I've outlined above?