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Marriage, relationships & families

Discuss the MoneySaving implications of relationships and family life.

MoneySaving mums

A place for mums with kids of all ages to discuss parent MoneySaving matters.

971 discussions 13.8K comments Most recent: Money Moral Dilemma: When should I tell my son I can't afford for him to go to a private school? by CapeTown Today at 1:32AM
MoneySaving dads

A place for dads with kids of all ages to discuss parent MoneySaving matters.

371 discussions 4.1K comments Most recent: Child maintenance increase by Northern_Wanderer 12 September at 9:50PM
Deaths, funerals & probate

Get MoneySaving help at the time of bereavement - discuss wills, inheritance tax, estate planning and more.

12.7K discussions 133.9K comments Most recent: IHT Probate and excepted estates by otb666 16 September at 10:47PM
Pets & pet care

For MoneySaving questions about taking care of your cat, dog, parrot or other animal companion, including vet fees and pet insurance.

15.9K discussions 250K comments Most recent: Would you always claim on insurance for Vet Treatment by elsien 12 September at 6:32PM

Illness pre planning
My question relates to buying our next home. My wife and I will be hopefully moving into a bungalow early next year. We have 2 children and a niece we would like to leave the house too when we die. However if one of us dies and the other ends up in care what is the best way to pass the house onto our relatives? The house…
Second marriage name change
Hi there can anyone help with a question please? I have just got married for the second time and would like to change my name to my maiden name hyphenated with my husbands surname. I never changed my first married name back to my maiden name on my passport etc so I was still known by my first husbands name therefore my…
Changing solicitor for divorce
My daughter fled an abusive marriage with two young children last year. Very complex divorce with narcissistic husband. Possible hiding assets. Now on fifth hearing for child arrangements. Husband making false allegations. Mother acts as third partner. Husband held children hostage due to disagreement about third party.…
Separation agreement or change beneficial ownership?
I have an amicable separation with my partner. He is willing to leave me the house when our fixed term mortgage expires in two years (I have always paid the mortgage but both names are on the mortgage as I couldn't pass the affordability rules when I first bought the house). As it is such a long time before I remortgage…
Partner doesn't want to replace double glazing
What more can I say. It's all in the title...
Money Moral Dilemma: Should I replace my son's Pokémon encyclopaedia that I gave away?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... As our kids are getting older, we had a massive clear out of toys, clothes and books that they no longer use. I asked my son, aged nine, to go through them and pull out anything he wanted to keep, but rather than checking, he said he knew there was nothing he wanted. One of…
Power of Attorney witnesses (lack of)
I have been looking into drawing up Power of Attorney agreements for myself and realised that for various reasons I don't have many people who I could ask to be witnesses. Most of my contacts are related to me, which immediately rules them out, and the 2 friends I spoke to about it both said they would not feel comfortable…
Divorce
Hi I'm currently going through a divorce my wife left me with our 3 children and moved out a year after getting married i have always paid the morgage but both names are on it we have been to mediation but can't agree on what's been said. Before she left we remortgage the house she is now asking for half the remortgage…
Lasting Power of Attorney - Signing the LPA in the Right Order
I am in the process of doing LPA's for my husband and myself. The forms are printed off ready to sign. We have gone for the simplest option so a lot of the boxes on the forms have a line through. E.g. no replacement attorney, no people to notify etc, I am attorney for him and he is attorney for me. We don't have children.…
Anyone applied for a clean break with an online divorce
I was wondering if anyone has done a Clean Break through their divorce that they have done online. I have spoken with a solicitor but the costs are crazy. I have already applied for the Divorce online and we both have no assets/ children are now adults and we have been separated over 10 years. If we both are happy to…
Power of Attorney - Help with Instructions re End of Life Decisions Please
Hubby & I are completing PoA's for both Health & Finance. We are concerned about making sure the Preferences & Instructions to Attorneys relating to End of Life (EoL) is unambiguous and I would appreciate any suggestions please. We both feel strongly about wanting all medical interventions possible to live ie we do not…
Implications of trust used to pay down mortgage in blended family
Mr and Mrs smith are married. they have a 300k mortgage on a £750k house, tenants in common 40/60 split Mrs smith is a beneficially of a family trust following the passing of her parents. Mrs smith wants to pay off £150k of said mortgage with money from trust. She accesses the money by way of a loan from the trust which…
Power of Attorney Advice - Parent Refusal
Hi all, Really need some advice. Since our mother passed away our father has been struggling to manage the household finances. He has never managed them before and despite our best efforts, things are slipping. We have tried to work with him to deal with some of the issues e.g. not paying bills on time, unsure of what…
Childcare options for returning to work
Hi, I am a higher rate tax payer that is expecting 2nd child. I was fortunate with 1st child (who is now in full time school and doing after school clubs etc.) that I was able to return to work flexibly/part time, but took on a new, full time role 2.5 years ago. With this baby, I am looking into my options for returning to…
Engagment and not living together?
I was wondering if anyone had some experience and opnions on this. My girlfriend and I have been together for almost 4 years. We don't live together, she has her house and I have my flat. We don't live a big distance away from eachother, about half an hour via public transport. I know she would love to get engaged and I'm…
Holidays as a single person
Do people in relationships get questioned as much about who they are going on holiday with as single people? I'm long term single, not happily, but I'm very used to being single and in my own company. Most who know me, know this, but I've had so very many questions about who I'm going on holiday with I wondered if it was…
Getting married with different assets
Hello, I'm engaged to be married, pregnant, very happy but I have been married and divorced before so I have a negative or more realistic view of marriage. I own a house with approx 200k equity in it. He has maybe 20k in savings, no property. He has been living with me for nearly 3 years and we have been splitting the…
Problems that may arise without LPA
Hi, I'd like to get your advice about a situation my wife is in with her family and wonder if you could share the potential problems that might arise without an LPA for her mum. Here's the situation: Her 86-year-old dad is living permanently in a nursing home and has dementia. An LPA is in place (both financial and health)…
Retrospective charging by Local Authority
Hi. The Local Authority, i.e. Social Services, asked my 96-year old Mum to sign a form to agree to have a financial assessment done to charge for her care. I have Lasting powers of attorney for her. She was discharged from hospital to a rehabilitation centre and is waiting on a decision as to whether she can go into a care…
Advice -Divorce/ Buying a house
So I have been separated 10 years and me and my new partner are looking to buy a house together. I have filed for a divorce. It’s never been done before as ex wouldn’t sign the papersband was being awkward all those years ago. He is now with someone else. There are no assets or children (older) involved in divorce. I’m…