Daughter has left husband - her responsibilities?

want2liveabroad

My daughter has left her husband and come back to live with us. They have no property - he has now gone in his own rented accommodation. Also no children - dog and 2 cats.
At the minute he isn't working and she has agreed to help with the dog and cats and also to help him with couple of other bits and bobs.
There are a couple of outstanding bills that she said she will pay and a loan which will be sorted.
But we wonder does she have long term responsibility for him?
I've looked on lot websites but can't find one that doesn't mention children.
thanks for any help

Mojisola

Was he financially dependent on her income? How long have they been married?

want2liveabroad

They have been married 7 years and she was the main wage earner.
He has been unwell for a while and cannot work at the minute - I believe he is on sick pay and rent paid.
thanks

HappyMJ

want2liveabroad wrote: »

They have been married 7 years and she was the main wage earner.
He has been unwell for a while and cannot work at the minute - I believe he is on sick pay and rent paid.
thanks

She'll be responsible for making sure he has a roof over his head and enough money left over to pay the essential bills and for food on the table until they get divorced. He's getting enough for food and gets his rent paid so that should be OK. If he has expenses getting to/from hospital/GP appointments then if he pushed it hard enough she should be paying for them as they are additional costs which won't be covered elsewhere by benefits....that may the the other bits and bobs you mention so that should be OK too.

The responsibility for the dogs and cats is a moral one. If he wants to keep them and your daughter doesn't mind paying then leave it as it is. If she doesn't want to pay or take responsibility for them and he can't afford them then he'll have to find the money himself or give them away.

Children aren't required in a divorce settlement. It's all about being fair and each person leaving with enough to continue with the same standard of living (at least in the short term)...if he chooses to squander the settlement then that's up to him.

You've said the loan will be sorted so by the sounds of it he's leaving with no debts. If she has money saved then the court might ask her to contribute something to him....especially if she holds the pension solely in her own name which would be a marital asset. Speak to a solicitor.

want2liveabroad

Thank you - that's very helpful.
Hopefully he will get back to work soon and be self sufficient!
She doesn't have any savings etc - mainly due to him!
thank you

Marktheshark

Why she needs to file for divorce as quickly as humanly possible.
He could run up some right debts.

want2liveabroad

Oh that's interesting - thank you - I'll tell her that one!
Didn't realise that!

Errata

She'll be responsible for making sure he has a roof over his head and enough money left over to pay the essential bills and for food on the table until they get divorced.

I think that's incorrect and utter nonsense.

merlin68

Travel to and from hospital apps is covered by benefits. We just take award letter to cash office and they refund the cost of travel so she shouldn't need to pay for that.

Marktheshark

Errata wrote: »

I think that's incorrect and utter nonsense.

Just a bit :rotfl:

The only real danger is she is still financially assured to him .
Things like joint accounts need to be closed ASAP to stop debts and credit cards getting maxed out.
Anything where she has joint liability needs to be closed down very quickly, credit cards, bank accounts, anything where money can be borrowed would leave her jointly and severally liable.
Council tax needs to be informed she has left, water, Electricity, gas, everything.
Once she decides she is going for it, she needs to go for it and very quickly.
If she can get him to agree to sign a DIY downloadable divorce that just needs signing and placing at the court that will save both of them rather a lot of money.
Solicitors love divorce battles and arguments about garden furniture at £120 a letter back and forth.

want2liveabroad

She has been to the bank and sorted the joint account - that didn't go down well!!
Don't think she has credit card - will check with her.