Divorce - Other half removing possesions from home

Viper_7

I'm currently going through a divorce with my Wife.

It's in the very early stages in that we've not even got to the point of myself initiating the divorce legally but have both
enlisted solicitors and going through the initial strages

We are both still under the same roof and the home is in joint names.

I've come home tonight to find things have been removed. Books/CD/s Stereo etc etc
I know that her brother has come over and helped her, as she's been in the loft to get suitcases down!
Now surely this is illegal!! Can someone point me in the right direction/documents so I have some information before I speak to my solicitor?

Thanks,

Vipes

Milford_Cubicle

I can't help with the legal side, but if she no longer lives in the marital home then perhaps it might be worth your while getting the locks changed to prevent her entering and taking anything else before the legal splitting of assets is sorted.

Viper_7

We are still living together in the marital home. The house and possession are in joint names. We are both agreed that I'm to buy her out. but if she's removing items without my knowlege - this is changing the asset value - plus how do I know what she (and her brother) are taking?!
surely it must be a status quo of some shape or form until the divorce is finalized legally and financially?
I bet the answer is yes - she can just take anything?! how absurd.

jess1974

Are these items hers, if so i would have thought she'd be allowed to take them. If not you'd better change the locks pronto.....

jess1974

Oops sorry just read the bit where you both still live together, no advice sorry...but have been there and know how you feel....

Emmzi

you can't legally change the locks if it's half her house.

Personally I wouldn't give a stuff about cds etc but I would note (and maybe ohoto) anything or real or sentimental value for consideration in the settlement.

Can you just ask her what her intentions are? Sound like she is moving on somewhere but you do need to agree who is paying what of bills/ mortgage and start documenting who is paying what (no cash in hand from now on - all cheques between you if you can)

Emmzi

probably. but do you really want a solicitor at £squillion an hour charging you to work out a squabble over old Dire Straights albums?

IMHO just not worth it - better to try and work it out together and save you bioth some money.

MrsTinks

Have you actually asked her not to I'd say that's the first place to start
I think removing a stereo is a bit naughty - but CDs? mmm in fairness I'd not be too worried but I WOULD list them... If you have a large CD collection then 100 cds could easily be worth £1000 (well replacement value would be anyway...)

Viper_7

Squabling over little things?!

Stereo system is around £700

Took around 600 Cd's...

50-60 books

Yes these I guess are "hers" ie... I'm not too fussed about Take That!
and yes she'd take these when she moves out anyway - but that's 6 mths away at least.
It's more the principle, that she's just taking stuff out without informing me and really if she's allowed to do this as it's considered an asset. I agree these are just possessions, but they all add up and what next? the TV?! she could be selling them for all I know....

I've spoken to her tonight and she's all apologetic, we are being amicable about our breakup, but taking stuff without the other's knowlege isn't too amicable.

The question was really is if she's allowed to do it, but she won't be doing it again anyhow! Makes you want to go around taking pictures of everything....

What a mess!

Cheers,

Vipes



sorry about the repeat posts.. just noticed them. I kept getting an error and it asked me to refresh.
(removing the duplicates)

mademoiselle_2

My ex did this to me, too. He was not working, the lazy (!), so I would come home from work to find that things had 'disappeared'. I discovered that he was making regular trips to his mother's house, filling the boot of the car with all the things he wanted.

I got angry about it on one occasion, and demanded to see what was in the boxes loaded to the roof in his car. (It was the pick of all the household tools). But then I left it. As I think you will, too.

Fact of the matter is, that although at this point you will be looking to point the finger of blame, and show how unjust your ex-partner is being... they are actually doing you a favour. When they are gone, will you really want to live with all the reminders of a shared life together? I certainly didn't.

After the one row with him, my ex decided to toe the line and insisted drawing up a list that divided the contents of the house by mutual consent. But I didn't argue about any of it - as far as I was concerned, he could take the lot - and he did, believe me! He moved out before me; and I ended up living in empty rooms. Greedy to the end, he took everything he could.

But the thing is, although I still ended up with boxes and boxes of stuff - none of it made it into my new house! They are still rotting in the garage. i didn't want all those bad memories.

You will feel the same, Viper. You will want new things, and a fresh start. So don't worry about it. Let her take what she wants, let her cram her new house full of them. I think she will regret it, in the end.

mookiandco

Legally - not much you can do until it comes to sorting the finances out when you can raise missing items and discuss who should have the same.

Practically - get your camera out and photograph anything of value. If you have receipts for things then nows the time to dig them out. Write an itineray of everything in the house. If you are going to discuss who owns what later on, you will need to agree this and then divide the property up.