Spousal Maintenance - Non Working Wife

pollypenny

Was she unable to work previously because of looking after children?  

If she's chosen a 1950s housewife style of living she's only got herself to blame. It will be difficult to get a job at her age, but working at anything will give her money and, maybe, a reason to meet people. 

Pollycat

OP

Did you not take on board the comments about rarity of spousal maintenance given in your thread you started a year ago?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6107300/seperation-from-wife-financial/p1

Have you had any legal advice regarding paying spousal maintenance?

Answers would help people understand better.

In another of your threads started last October (link in Movingforward's post), you said:

dontknowwhattodonext said:

She has said she wiill reasonable, but when I stop transferriing her money, who knows,  Yes I need to push her to get a job

I appreciate that things are difficult right now but how did that conversation go?

Does she still expect you to fund her single lifestyle?

dontknowwhattodonext

I have spoken to a solictor and was told like be 50% of salar and my pension, as she is unlikley to get a job, also he raised the fact wiith no income how would she be able to rent a property.

MovingForwards

50% of your pension yes, not your salary indefinitely.

Without a job she does the same as anyone else, claims benefits and moves in with friends / family, does a flat share or rents a property herself.

Sorry to say this, but you've been talking about not for nearly 10 years, a decade of both of your lives where things would have been so much better now than they are.

What's stopping you from taking the step and saying it's over?

comeandgo

My husbands ex wife was a bit like yours though this was 20 years ago and  he agreed to pay her an agreed sum for one year but it was paid out in one payment so they could cease any contact.  It was not enough for her to sit at home all day but enough to take on a low paid job and be trained up in what she wanted to do.

burlingtonfl6

pollypenny said:

Was she unable to work previously because of looking after children?  

If she's chosen a 1950s housewife style of living she's only got herself to blame. It will be difficult to get a job at her age, but working at anything will give her money and, maybe, a reason to meet people. 

I can never understand why some women look down on other women for choosing this direction in life. If children are involved it is probably one of  the most fulfilling careers out there.

Pollycat

burlingtonfl6 said:

pollypenny said:

Was she unable to work previously because of looking after children?  

If she's chosen a 1950s housewife style of living she's only got herself to blame. It will be difficult to get a job at her age, but working at anything will give her money and, maybe, a reason to meet people. 

I can never understand why some women look down on other women for choosing this direction in life. If children are involved it is probably one of  the most fulfilling careers out there.

But on topic, there are no children in this specific case.

The wife has chosen not to work, has not worked for 3 years.

I would understand spousal maintenance if the wife had stayed at home to raise children - as a joint decision between both of them, supporting her husband in a demanding career and had given up a promising career herself to do so.

But that is not the case here.

CookieMonster

dontknowwhattodonext said:

I have spoken to a solictor and was told like be 50% of salar and my pension, as she is unlikley to get a job, also he raised the fact wiith no income how would she be able to rent a property.

She can get a job delivering for Amazon/stacking shelves/a plethora of other activities that will earn money.
You are divorcing. You are no longer responsible for another adult human being.

Silvertabby

Pollycat said:

burlingtonfl6 said:

pollypenny said:

Was she unable to work previously because of looking after children?  

If she's chosen a 1950s housewife style of living she's only got herself to blame. It will be difficult to get a job at her age, but working at anything will give her money and, maybe, a reason to meet people. 

I can never understand why some women look down on other women for choosing this direction in life. If children are involved it is probably one of  the most fulfilling careers out there.

But on topic, there are no children in this specific case.

The wife has chosen not to work, has not worked for 3 years.

I would understand spousal maintenance if the wife had stayed at home to raise children - as a joint decision between both of them, supporting her husband in a demanding career and had given up a promising career herself to do so.

But that is not the case here.

A recently divorced neighbour (in her 50s) hasn't worked since she had her first child.  She was awarded 2 years of spousal maintenance, specifically to give her time to re-train and find a job.  

TBagpuss

OP,  a court would most likely award your wife a higher share of the capital to reflect the fact that is not, realistically, going to be able to get a job that pays her £3K a month, and may agree that it is reasonable for her to get maintenance for the first year or 2 to give her time to move towards financial independence. If the value of the assets mean that you will both be renting rather than buying then obviously the amount needed to cover rent will be relevant, and it may be worth looking at whether it is possible to raise a lump sum so she can pay 6 or 12 months rent upfront.
Given her age, she will probably be at a disadvantage in the labour market but should be able to find work albeit perhaps in 'unskilled' work, such as working in a supermarket.