House deeds and divorced husband

[louella]

I divorced my husband 17yrs ago after he assualted me, an offence he went to prison for. I haven't seen or heard from him since and in all that time I've paid the mortgage on my house. I've always had a lingering fear that he may turn up one day and try to claim part of my home, or try and take a loan using it as security. I owned the house before I ever met him and only took the mortgage with him on it to do some improvements, I was only married to hime for five years and I finish my 25yr mortgage in 2yrs.
I'm afraid to try and find him in case by alerting him to the fact that his name is still on the documents it gives him ideas, he's really an unpleasant man and I don't want him anywhere back in my life.
Does anyone know is there anything I can do?

[DSJ]

Can't you get proper legal advice either from a solicitor or from your local CAB before the expiry of the mortgage?

Your ex-husband might even be dead or have moved overseas by now.

[bednobs]

wasn't the house dealt with in the divorce?

[boxtops]

If you owned the house outright before, did you have his name put on the deeds when you took out the mortgage, or was it only the loan which was in joint names? I don't understand why this wasn't all sorted out as part of your divorce settlement - if it had been, he would have no redress against you now.

[louella]

I think you're pointing me in the direction I knew I had to go to really, that's to find a good solicitor and see what can be done. I've looked at their website and I think I'll be eligible for seeing someone under legal aid so that's what I'm going to do. Many thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

[mrs_overall]

Most solicitors will give you a free 30 min consultation, and at the same time will tell you if you are eligible for legal aid