The knock on effects of Separation and Divorce

Matchbook

I'm after some advice, i know this forum is not for legal advice but want to get some general feedback.
I am separated with my wife and am looking to divorce shortly. I have moved out of the family home as she is not working and i am working full time so she is doing more childcare.
Based on this she has updated the council so she get a 'single persons discount' this means i need to update the council tax/ electoral role that i am not living there. (living at parents)
This has a knock on effect for many things. I dont know how we will sort the house /mortgage yet.

1) Cars; do i need to update car registrations and insurance to my parents address? driving licence?
2) Home insurance?
3) Banks/ other financial records?
4) separation of joint account?
5) what about more minor things like join family place like icloud and netflix.

we have no debt/ joint debt other than the mortgage (thankfully)

finally, most of the bills are in my name, joint names and or with my email, if she take over the bills is it recognition of relinquishing control of the house, and will this harm me later? I am paying half the mortgage plus maintenance into a joint account which is used for bills.

would appreciate help thank you

gwynlas

If your move to parents house is long term then you need to inform DVLA and insurer, similarly banks and other institutions.
Home insurance is presumably for wifes address though you need to ensure that parents insurance adequate for you, Similarly netflix and icloud.
You should close joint account once you have decided how mortgage is to be serviced.
Will she be looking for work ?

Are you in the process of divorce in which case you need to negociate financial settlement?

There are obviously many other questions/arrangements re child support etc that you both need to address

RAS

You need to close the joint account, with your ex's co-operation hopefully.

It sounds like you already have a bank account into which your salary is paid, from which you are paying maintenance and the mortgage? So it shouldn't be difficult to remove your name, or to pay directly into your wife's personal account. 

Any joint savings accounts?

MyRealNameToo

Matchbook said:

1) Cars; do i need to update car registrations and insurance to my parents address? driving licence?
2) Home insurance?
3) Banks/ other financial records?
4) separation of joint account?
5) what about more minor things like join family place like icloud and netflix.

we have no debt/ joint debt other than the mortgage (thankfully)

finally, most of the bills are in my name, joint names and or with my email, if she take over the bills is it recognition of relinquishing control of the house, and will this harm me later? I am paying half the mortgage plus maintenance into a joint account which is used for bills.

would appreciate help thank you

1) Cars must be registered to somewhere where you can be contacted, if you are confident she will forward you mail promptly then its ok, if you want to be safer, have it as where you are living 

2) Home insurance typically requires it to be the policyholder's primary residence as second home etc are specialist versions. Is she a joint policyholder? You may get away with it if she is, if she isnt then either she needs to arrange the insurance or you can see if they'd be happy with you simply adding her

3) Would be prudent to change them

4) Can only be done by mutual consent as it's in both names. Remember that whilst separated but not divorced your finances are still entwined so if she's spending and your saving its likely part of those new savings will later be shared

5) Depends on who's using them etc. Haven't read the terms of iCloud but Netflix monitors IP use now so having two different homes constantly accessing the same account will likely trigger their no-sharing unless you pay an extra fee policy at some point. 

RAS

Have you set up mail re-direct, in your sole name? Might be a good idea whilst things are amiable?

Cobbler_tone

In my experience you can (and should) get your name off of everything. Apart from the mortgage which won’t be possible, especially if she is not working. You should definitely move to close any joint account. I switched the mortgage payment out of my personal account, which you can do yourself.
Anything in your name should be at the address you are at, including the mortgage for correspondence.
Unfortunately you are in for the long haul, so mediation and a good solicitor after that.
I am sure you will want to ensure your children have a secure home and assuming maintenance won’t cover all bills, so you may have to chip in. She’ll be entitled to universal credits, so push for transparency of her income.

Cobbler_tone

Just to add...
None of this is easy and my personal process took 5 years from separation to divorce. For this entire time I paid a mortgage in full and rented a private place to have my children.
It took 14 months to get off all other bills. I had situations like having a car registered in her name and my name on the loan, which I settled in full. I cleared joint credit card bills, settled all utility bills to zero etc. The whole process cost me around £500k in equity and assets, signing all the house equity over plus a lump sum payment which I only paid this year, some 5 years after the event. I was fortunate to have a decent pension but that was all I kept. My children are both over 19 now and I am free of any further payments and in a position to help them directly a bit more.
I couldn't be happier now and retiring at 57 with a lovely partner...but it will be a very difficult process, possibly the hardest you can face.
The only other advice would be to avoid spousal payments and stick to lump sums. The latter can be full and final (the best route) otherwise she 'could' keep coming back for more.

Someone taught me that life is a river and you are just travelling down some rough water at the moment. It gets better, promise.