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Marriage, relationships & families

Discuss the MoneySaving implications of relationships and family life.

Marriage, Relationships & Families sticky
👪 Here are some Forum threads you might find useful: * Information about term time holidays and imposed penalties * Please look after your privacy, we can't do it for you! * What to do when a partner/spouse dies * Pet Insurance guide discussion area * Free rail travel for people fleeing domestic violence 👪 And here's some…
How do I get my daughter to start coming over more like the old days...
So basically I have a 14 year daughter, she lives with her mother and stepfather and has done for about 9 years. I work away and when I'm home she used to spend alternative weekends and occasional days during the week and usually parts of the schools holidays with me. I recently sold my house last year and moved in with my…
Has anyone used Lawhive (online legal advice) and would you recommend them?
Looking for low cost legal divorce advice
Clean break order
After 12 months of being separated from my wife I am wanting to get a divorce over and done with. We have no financial ties, a minimal amount of debt (any debt with false claims with HMRC have been split between us already) and no assets (says a lot for 18 years!). I know I can get divorced online now easily through the…
Elderly Lady Moving from HA Accommodation to Nursing Home
I’m looking for some advice regarding an elderly lady who may soon need to move permanently into a nursing home. Over the past year she has been in and out of hospital and has recently been transferred to a temporary nursing home for assessment. We are close friends and effectively the nearest thing she has to family,…
Should car finances be split equally if you’re not named owner?
My partner and I recently moved in together, and we decided we only needed one car between us as I work from home and he commutes via train. He bought a car on finance before we got together, and has 2.5 years left of the agreement. I had an old banger of which the battery kept dying, so I scrapped mine and he added me to…
Partner not contributing to house expenses. Is it fair?
I've been with my partner for about 25 years and we have a grown up child between us who lives away. He moved into my house after our child was born and since then we've moved house twice. Before I fell pregnant I owned my own house and had a lodger to help with the mortgage. He owned his own flat that was mortgaged. After…
Acrimonious Divorce - How to ensure suitable Financial Disclosure?
TL;DR: In a particularly messy divorce where there is a big financial disparity between ex-partners, how do you ensure that the other side have disclosed all financial records? How do you know/prove they have disclosed everything? Background: Close family member (who is not financially-savvy) is going through a nasty…
Most efficient way for US based grandparents to give money to grandkids
My late husband’s parents live in USA and they would like to give their grandchildren some money for the future. Has anyone experienced this before and have any recommendations please? UK based financial advisors don’t seem to be able to help Many thanks
Changing back to maiden name
has anyone had any issues with changing back to maiden name after divorce - I am currently selling my home (not the marital home) and wondering whether to wait until afterwards but just wondering if anyone came up with any negative issues
Which? Power of Attorney Service - Scotland
I'm looking into Power of Attorney in Scotland where we don't have the same DIY form-filling options as England and Wales. Given solicitors charge around £400 for PoA, the Which? DIY service at around £69 (for both welfare and continuing powers of attorney) looks good value, complies with Scots Law and your completed…
MSE News: Martin Lewis: 'Let's make it easier for people in Scotland to use their Power of Attorney'
People in Scotland are being "sub-served" when they come to use their Power of Attorney compared with other UK nations, Martin Lewis has said. In a letter sent to the Scottish Government today (Thursday 5 February 2026), the MoneySavingExpert.com founder has urged for change to prevent unnecessary stress at what is…
Selling the family home for elderly parent's care, dilemma.
My brother moved into the house that our mother owns, a few years ago. He is unemployed and has paid no rent, and only made irregular contributions to bills. She now needs residential care and will be self-funding. She lacks mental capacity and I am her only LPA. As such I have responsibility to act in her best interests.…
Divorce and property takeover and capital gains tax
Marital home was purchased for £249,000 - 2024 - two years ago there was a seperation and the wife remained in the marital home while the husband moved out - the house was valued at £200,000 due to repairs that needed doing. The outstanding amount of the mortgage is £110,000 and the wife has secured a mortgage in her own…
Property Trusts in Scotland
Hello Forumites I am new to the Forum and am hoping to tap into your knowledge following the recent death of my father. He was only married once and is survived by my mother (90 years old), myself and my brother. They live in Scotland. Having 'evacuated the survivorship clause' in the house deeds, his will provides for a…
Name change & keeping professional identity
Could anyone share personal experience with changing your surname but keeping a professional identity under your former name? We both do very different work but it is locked quite significantly in our given names. I absolutely don't wish to and can't change my name in a professional capacity. My partner feels similarly.…
Power of Attorney online tool STILL not live – here's how the process is set to change in future
An online tool to apply for Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is still not available despite being announced over a year ago – and the Government has confirmed that it doesn't have a launch date. This means a tricky paper form remains the only way to apply for this crucial protection. Power of Attorney online tool STILL not…
Lack of family time starting to get to me
When my partner returned to work after our son was born, we agreed she would go back to work part time as our finances and childcare etc allowed this. I work Monday to Friday in a 9-5 job, she went back to work and told her employer her availability was all day Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and she was available at a weekend…
Options we have for a distant MIL
Hello! Apologies If this isn't the right place. I've got a slightly awkward situation involving my wife and technically MiL. For various reasons my wife has been no contact with her mum for many many years. She's in the past few years gone through some specialist therapy and has semi recently been in contact over email,…
Inheritance implications of parents living with me
Hello Forumites, I may have found the answer elsewhere, but appreciate the knowledge and experience of you lovely people! My elderly parents own a house worth around £500k which they have lived in since year dot. They are still in good health, but my family are moving away to a house that has a self-contained flat. We are…
Buying my long term partner's share of house and mortgage
I would like to buy my partner's share of the house. How do I go about it? As an example the house is worth £360K with £60k left on the mortgage. The mortgage and ownership is split 50/50. We are not married. My new partner and I would like buy my partner's share outright less £30k my partner owes on the outstanding…