Wife stopped paying, won't go..?

Rbeaton

So my wife has decided she does not want to be with me after 15 years of marriage.

I earn significantly more than her and as of Aug'16 she stopped contributing to the household bills. The house costs circa £4.5k/month to run and she is living here with our two children (10 and 19) rent free. I have offered to give her £800/month and half of the house (minus selling fees etc) but she refuses to go and is now slowing the whole divorce down in order to continue living rent free.

Is there anything I can do?

WillowCat

Until there is a financial settlement she is perfectly entitled to live in the marital home.

It may be that a court allows her to stay until the youngest child is 18 (a Mesher order).

If the divorce is ongoing, the best way to ensure that settlement is achieved is attend mediation, and if this fails to file Form A to start the court process. A settlement can take a very long time if all that happens is the exchange of solicitors letters.

From start to finish the court process takes approximately a year, depending on how busy your local court is.

kazwookie

Rbeaton wrote: »

So my wife has decided she does not want to be with me after 15 years of marriage.

I earn significantly more than her and as of Aug'16 she stopped contributing to the household bills. The house costs circa £4.5k/month to run and she is living here with our two children (10 and 19) rent free. I have offered to give her £800/month and half of the house (minus selling fees etc) but she refuses to go and is now slowing the whole divorce down in order to continue living rent free.

Is there anything I can do?

I would suggest you see if you can cut the 4.5K per month you pay out.

And talk to your wife

Gavin83

Rbeaton wrote: »

Is there anything I can do?

Stop paying. Should focus her mind a bit.

theoretica

Rbeaton wrote: »

she is living here with our two children (10 and 19) rent free.

You surely don't want to charge the 10 year old rent - or charge your wife rent on their behalf?

TBagpuss

What does your solicitor say?
They will be best placed to advise you.

If you are no longer in the house the you may be able to stop paying the council tax and utility bills.

Does your wife work?

onomatopoeia99

Are you also living in the house? Your opening post is not clear.

lucyhope

£4.5k a month? :eek:

pphillips

She has a right to occupy the marital home until the marital assets have been divided up between you. To get her out of the marital home the only way this can be done is if you divorce her or she divorces you. Normally one of you will apply for a financial remedy after going through mediation while the divorce application is still going through. You might want to get some legal advice from a solicitor who can give you some idea of what a court might award you. But you don't have to use a solicitor if you want to fill in all the forms yourself.

pinkshoes

A property that cost £4.5k a month to run must be rather large. I suggest you move back in if you have moved out.

Can you afford to keep paying as well as paying for somewhere else for you to live?