Married but living apart lifetime mortgage issue.

gdw123

I am not sure if this is the right forum but I am ending up in a desperate situation. 
My wife is Bipolar and is living in an assisted home at present. We do not want to divorce or legally separate. I am on Universal Credit as my business dropped 90% due to Covid.
I am living in the home where I was looking after my mother until she died. I have inherited the home as the sole beneficiary in her will.  
I was looking at Equity release or a lifetime mortgage on the property to settle the legal fees and debts and carry on living at the home. I went through a vetting process which stopped when I said we were living separately. Without the extra funds I will have no way of living in the property. My wife and I are not looking to formally separate as she may get better. I have a joint bank account with her which she still uses. I have no problem with  her eventually returning. In the US it is possible to have a status of married but living in two locations but not here. Is there any source to discuss this without gigantic legal fees? 

Savvy_Sue

Have you tried using a mortgage broker? and / or read this thread on equity release? 

CottonTail

Id sell the house and move to a smaller property in your name, and use some funds to pay off the debts. If your wife recovers she can move in with you.

What are the legal fees? Is this not already covered by her estate or was the house the only asset?