divorce settlement

wiff

Can someone tell me how much im likely to have to pay my ex wife? She left me, and our 2 children almost 5 years ago when they were 10 and 14 "to find herself" and consequently married a turkish national, he still lives in Turkey and she lives in Wales. She took approx £8000 savings with her and now owes almost £3000 arrears in csa. She hasnt contributed to the mortgage at all, and the house has been valued at £61,000 by an independant valuer arranged through the courts. She now wants her share of the house, as she became pregnant on her last holiday to Turkey even though she left me in debt to bring our two children up on my own. Any idea what percentage shes likely to get and do the courts knock the mortgage im already paying off first before they decide her percentage?

sonsbear

Don't know but you want to get the best solicitor you can afford on this. And I really mean that - they are worth it. To say she's cheeky is an unstatement and you need to protect yourself and the children.

I found the wikivorce site a pretty useful starting point for divorce things.

NAR

What would be up for "sharing" is the equity in the house (ie value less mortgage outstanding and mortgage paid during last 5 years, any savings/shares etc both of you had (I see she cleared off with £8k) any pensions that exist.
Totally agree with sonsbear, get a good divorce lawyer who will specialise in financial settlements. I take it you did divorce since she has remarried? Why was there no financial settlement at that time? Make sure you get a clean-break settlement - she can't then ever come back looking more money.

wiff

At the time of the divorce, she was difficult to contact. She went to live in London and was in Turkey alot of the time and just didnt make any effort to respond to any of my solicitors requests. She still hasnt produced the isa,s or her bank statements from the time she left, and my solicitor hasnt mentioned knocking the money i have paid in the last 5 years of the settlement. He suggested i should treat that as paying "rent".

ICATQ

It sounds like you will end up having to go to Court so that a Judge will direct that she provides the financial information so that can be used as a basis for dtermining who gets what, if anything. Maybe the court ruling will focus her attention?

Ultimately you need a consent order. As stated above, wikivorce is a good place to start, someone on there will be able to give you better advice from experience, both having done it, or from the legal profession.

Dont forget you can claim for costs too....

MrsTinks

Fight her for every penny... Pretty much the same advice as I'd give any woman who came on here in your shoes
Get a good solicitor - one who'll fight your corner. There isn't a "set" formula for the agreement and settlements so I'd say a "fair" amount would be the value of the house - what you have paid to the mortgage since she left - the outstanding amount on the mortgage + the £8k savings = £x000 / 2 (half and half) would be the best she could hope for (but that's my view and not legal advice!)