SAHM divorce help/pointers

Tea&Biscuits

Hoping to get an initial appt in place with a solicitor in the new year.

Being a SAHM (have been for 8 years) I'm very worried about the financial implications for me.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of any websites that help with divorce questions from a Sahm point of view... or can anyone give me any suggestions as to what to ask/expect at an initial meeting with a solicitor.

How much will a divorce cost? Can I get any legal aid?

Caz3121

wikidivorce website is often recommended

marywooyeah

You can only get legal aid if you can provide valid documentary evidence that you have been the victim of domestic abuse from your ex partner within the last 24 months. You also need to be financially eligible for legal aid in addition to this.

Divorce is easy, it's a paper basesls exercised, it's finances you will need a solicitor for. If you are planning on seeking financial remedy from your ex partner you would need to attend mediation - legal aid is available based solely on your means - to seek to reach and agreement. If an agreement is reached after both parties have made full and frank financial disclosure the agreement can be reflected into a Consent Order with a Clean Break to prevent any future claims on either side.

If no agreement is reached and you still wished to pursue a financial award, you would need to issue financial remedy proceedings. If you can't get legal aid, these proceedings are expensive and the cost may out weigh any potential award. It all comes down to the disparity in your incomes and outgoings and the assets and debts of the marriage.

jackieblack

Caz3121 wrote: »

wikidivorce website is often recommended

I think that you probably mean wikivorce http://www.wikivorce.com/divorce/

restless6

You should start looking for a job too.

Being a SAHM is no longer possible if you are going to be a single parent, as you wont have a husband to support you.

Student_Mrs

I have been a single mum for 4 months and always earned more; I am now studying for a Masters and working 3 jobs and I get assistance with childcare from tax credits. I have met some fab women who have found themselves in the same predicament and some are stay at home. Single parents have to find creative solutions and so I'm not sure saying she now needs a job is helpful when she is facing the end of her marriage.

I won't be looking at divorce until 2 years separation is up as currently no-one is at fault. But, I have a friend who had to put it on a zero interest credit card so perhaps worth looking at applying for before you separate?

Good luck. I've been getting costs from divorce dot gov uk

Tea&Biscuits

Thanks for this, it's v helpful to see that you don't have to rush straight in for "divorce" and can "separate" at first until everything is worked out.

Tea&Biscuits

restless6 wrote: »

You should start looking for a job too.

Being a SAHM is no longer possible if you are going to be a single parent, as you wont have a husband to support you.

This seems a rather judgemental thing to say. You do not know my circumstances.

My husband does not support either me or my children.

DUTR

Tea&Biscuits wrote: »

This seems a rather judgemental thing to say. You do not know my circumstances.

My husband does not support either me or my children.

I don't think it's judgemental, the readers assumed you do not have a lover at home or around.
If your husband is not supporting you, then there is only the formalities to arrange.

heuchera

OP says 'my children' rather than 'our children', implying that the children are not the current husband's?

Tea&Biscuits

hmm perhaps it's just the use of the word "support".

I've found whilst being a SAHM most women go back to work in some way shape or form, and those who don't are spoken about as having husbands who "support" them.

I suppose, it is the semantics of this that is all wrong (to me). A husband does not "support" (financally) his wife while she is a SAHM. A husband and wife make a joint decision to have one parent at home to care for THEIR children until they reach an age where it is no longer deemed necessary.

I shall hush now!