How do you go about getting a matrimonial Order?

JMW77

I am sat with my friend who's husband left her 6 weeks ago by text message.

She does'nt intend to give him a divorce she just wants to know how to go about getting regular maintenance for her and her 15 year old daughter. She earns £880 pounds a month and he takes home approx £2000 a month.

Hes offered £200 a month ,her outgoings for bills and essentials totals £1269.10.

Where does she start she has no idea as she has been married for a 24 years and is really upset and worried about her financial situation.

Any advice would be appreciated .

Luis

Go and see a solicitor as soon as possible

AnnaLicious_2

Go straight to CSA before anything else. Don't play around with the 'oh let's do it informally between us' game. These are their contact details - http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/contact/

Then I'd go to your local CAB to at least pick up some paperwork they will have on exactly this issue.

JMW77

Ok thanks , she had left it six weeks because she thought he would probably be back but now it looks unlikely.

curlytop12

and she can apply for child tax credit and working tax credit ,just ring them up,they were really helpful and friendly with me.sorry i don't know phone numbers-google it!
good she has a friend in you,i would have been lost without mine at the time of my marriage ending.

Mojisola

Do wives still get maintenance for themselves? I thought that went out some years ago.

heretolearn_2

If this is his only child (i.e. he doesn't have any resident children he is responsible for where he has moved to) the CSA formula for one child is 15% of his takehome income, so he'll be told to pay £300 a month. Best for her to go through the CSA but he can make some voluntary payments until that goes through.

Wives don't get maintenance for themselves any more.

She needs to get down to the DSS as well to sort out her benefits to help with the rest.

gizmo111

With a maariage that long she needs to go and get some legal advice as there are all sorts to consider including pensions, house, any other assets and debts of the marriage.
Why wont she divorce him?

JMW77

To Gizmo,

I think shes desperate to have him back and has not accepted he has gone, and i guess it does'nt help when she has people continually saying he will be back,i admit i also think he will probably be back at some point.I am shocked he left.
But basically giving him a divorce would be the end and shes not prepared to accept that yet.The thought of him being able to marry again is
not something she wants to even contemplate so basically does'nt want to make his life easy.
Time will maybe make her change her mind .

JMW77

Ok i think she was relying on what you call wife maintenance she will be shocked she may not receive as much as she hopes.

I will tell her later when i see her .

JMW77

I believe she is going to CAB today and possibly booking a free half hour appointment with solicitor.

So thanks everyone .