Help with my SOA please

mr_affable

Can I put a figure down for dry cleaning for work suits? If so how much and what do I put it under - or do I just create a separate heading?

philnicandamy

Around £15 for dry cleaning if needed for work etc

(just add it to "other" or create a new heading either way will help the reciever)

mr_affable

Following on from above I am also in the process of divorcing my ex wife.

Can anyone tell me whether spouse maintenance payments are allowed as deductions before working out net income available for payment to creditors?

Ineedaname

Just include it as an expense on your SOA, I don't think the OR can ask you not to make maintenance payments if it's for your kids. It's a genuine expense after all.

kepar

How has the maintenance payment been decided? By the court, or between the two of you?

mr_affable

I have already allowed for child maintenance (paid through the CSA) but it is likely my ex will start to ask for spousal maintenance. As the debts were run up jointly whilst married but in my sole name I will argue that they should be paid before I pay her anything (but thats another story!)

Would it make a difference if payments were agreed between us or ordered by court?

kepar

When you bankrupt any joint unsecured debts you have with your ex will go entirely to her. You cannot give her money to settle these debts. It will be seen to be favouring creditors, a big no no. Unless these debts are secured they are no longer a part of your life. The OR will not allow you to give money to your ex to pay them off.

Ineedaname

Kepar, the debts are in the OP's sole name.

Mr Affable, sorry, I misread your earlier post as child maintenance. If you are insolvent and subsequently BR then you don't have the money for spousal payments as well. I reckon any decent solicitor will tell her to go whistle on that score.

To be honest I didn't think spousal payments were made much any more unless one partner had stacks of money the other thought they should still benefit from!

mr_affable

Thanks for your replies.

Ex hasnt actually asked for maintenance payments yet but just anticipating she will try - especially if she thinks my housing costs have reduced when (if) I move in with new partner. As there are no other assets available (apart from my preserved final salary pension which is not available for anor 11 years) as we sold house and split net proceeds (although not much left after paying off mortgage) and I got to keep credit card debts of £36500.

Also new partner is really concerned that somehow ex would be able to prove I had a beneficial interest in new partners (mortgage free) property and have some sort of claim on it.

Sorry gone off at a tangent a bit and not really for this forum although someone might have experience of similar! Just wanted to give the whole picture

mr_affable

Just to clarify again credit card debts are in my sole name - although built up on household expenditure ex made it quite clear she would not pay for them