Separated, how much should I provide?

JackRS

Tonight I am discussing how to split our assets. There are 4 basic topics:

1) House (starting point 50/50)
2) Pension (starting point 50/50)
3) Spousal maintenance (agree amount and period)
4) Car

House:
I suspect she may propose 80/20 for house in her favour due to her earning potential. However I would prefer a 60/40 split in her favour for the house. Contents to also be agreed, valued and included in the proportion calculation. If contents value is £5000 and she has it all that should be included in the calculation.

Pension:
I would suggest the pension is split 80/20 in my favour as the current value is similar to the house. However if the we agree to the house being 60/40 split in her favour for the house then we should use the same in my favour for the pension.

Spousal maintenance:
I know she expects lifetime payment. I will propose to continue paying her 30% of my take home pay until the end of this year then pay CSA recommended 15% until our sons 20th birthday February 2016.

Car:
Continue to providing a new car from my employment ownership scheme for another year at a cost to me of £185/m. At the end of the term review the situation.

Additionally:
I will continue to support our Children as and when they need and continue to pay them an allowance which is currently done by paying their monthly contract phone charge.

Do you think this is reasonable and fair?

Meanwhile the next tenants in my rental house move in 31st July so I’ve got to get out soon, not sure what I’m doing?

ecgirl07

JackRS wrote: »

Car:
Continue to providing a new car from my employment ownership scheme for another year at a cost to me of £185/m. At the end of the term review the situation.

Reviewing the term leaves it open - I would suggest you provide the car for as long as you provide the 30% of your take home ie to the end of the year. Then you could negotiate to the end of the term as a compromise. After that it is up to your ex to sort out her own transport.


edit to say the rest sounds more than fair. Good luck with mediation.

Mojisola

I wouldn't put in writing how much you will give your children (or specify things like "pay phone contract".

If you were all still a family, they would probably have got help from you on an "as and when needed and if we can afford it" basis.

JackRS

Actually as I’m looking at an equity buy out at what ever proportion we agree I would need to stop 30% maintenance payments once I start paying the mortgage so I would link the timing to that.

JackRS

We both have credit card debt, should that be considered and added into the house value calculation as it's a 'negative asset' ?

thorsoak

Whatever spousal maintenance you offer, it should be withdrawn should she marry/cohabit again ......

Mojisola

Any debts must be included in the settlement.

It's only when you look at assets and debts that you get a true picture of the financial position.

JackRS

thorsoak wrote: »

Whatever spousal maintenance you offer, it should be withdrawn should she marry/cohabit again ......

Well yes it'll have conditions on it, but as I I'd prefer a shorter term it may not be relevant

Mojisola

There are exs who deliberately stay single just to make sure their maintenance continues. You could end up paying her forever unless it has a cut-off point.

There must also be some way of including the benefits that she's refusing to claim.

justme111

I may have missed something - why pension split 80/20 in your favour ? It should be 50/50 ?
I would not include children under additional , surely your support tp children beyond cs should be arranged with them , not with your ex. Otherwise it puts her in a role of representing children in dealing with you , not a good position for you as it is in the context of haggling with her and makes it as if you were hagglingng with children.
Good luck .
If you don't reach complete agreement at the first step do not dispair , one step at a time.
Re where to go - furniture into storage and back to sharing accommodation ? Will rub it into her face what position you are in. I would check with solicitors re moving back into a marital home , after all you are homeless and it is your housea wellwell !!