Divorce

[StepfordWife]

I have been married to my husband for 22 years, and he has now decided that his secretary is a younger, better model. I have never worked (he preferred me to stay at home and keep the house and look after him and the children - who are now both at university). I did once start a small business, but he persuaded me to close it. To be fair though, I have never wanted for anything. But now he has moved out, I am starting to worry about how I am going to cope on my own financially. A friend of mine has said that because he earned all the money, I am likely to get nothing on divorce. We own this house and 6 others as well as a place in France.

Is my friend right? What am I likely to get? All I actually want is a small house and a car. I don't mind working, I just don't know what I could do.

[themas]

Your friend is not correct. You need to see a family law solicitor to get speccialist advice on your particular circumstances, but financial settlements on divorce take into account the contribution of the home maker (normally the wife) and do not assume that the person who has worked necessarily gets all the money & assets.

[weeal]

Whiffey, get back in your box !

[StepfordWife]

Thank you Themas. I am going to see a solicitor next week, but my mind is a little more at rest now.

Weall, I really am not sure what you mean. Whiffey has just been extremely rude to me on another thread.

[Ethel]

Provision will be made so you have a home and probably a right to a share of his pension.

Don't worry - you won't be homeless and penniless, but get yourself a good solicitor.

[lady_p_gold]

After what is considered a 'long' marriage you are likely to get a substantial settlement. Your friend is quite wrong. The pension could also be split with you owning a percentage in your own right.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

as you have sat on your backside for all that time,doing nothing,you dont deserve anything.

[StepfordWife]

NormantheDog, I haven't exactly sat on my backside doing nothing. My husband didn't WANT me to work. He preferred me to bring up the children (which I did) and provide a home plus considerable entertaining for his work. I did start a business, but he was so unhappy about it, I ended up closing it down. When the children went to secondary school, I did go out to work but only on a voluntary basis for charities. But why I have to justify myself to someone like you, I do not know.

[StepfordWife]

But thank you to the rest of you for your helpful answers.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

lazy slob

[StepfordWife]

Given the developments today, I believe that should read "lazy rich slob".

[Ethel]

Good for you. :)

It is a fact that many successful men could not have attained their business success without a wife to look after the home, children, business entertaining and personal day to day humdrum as well as the emotional support.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

girl power,are you sure,ethel as well.

[BelfastBloke]

Take him to the cleaners. you have 22 years of unpaid work, dedication and devotion to your family that needs a finacial figure on it.Your ex Husband will be bricking it. Many people still dont believe that marriage is also a legal contract and your husband broke it.
Get a good solicitor you will be fine.

[Barmaid]

The other posters are correct StepfordWife (apart from NormantheDog). The courts do not differentiate between who contributed to the "assets" and weigh the contribution of a wife in keeping the home as equal importance to that of her husband. A cursory search on google should pull up cases like White v White and Lambert v Lambert where the wife has stayed at home while the hubby built a business career. Both wives were extremely well provided for on divorce.