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Legal matters

Can I still claim 1/2 his salary?

34 replies

madgered · 31/01/2013 15:01

I am a SAHM to 4 children aged 5 - 22. I haven't worked for 23 years. My husband wants a divorce. We are in the early stages getting our financial statements together. I am terrified for my financial future. My DH has done some dodgy things.

He owes £1.9million in tax. He's been caught by the Inland Revenue for tax evasion. He earns £600 +K at the moment, some of which is going on tax repayment (A significant amount has already been saved, he knew he was going to be nailed)

My question is: Will I have to settle with half of what is left of his salary at this moment in time. Or will I be given 1/2 of what his salary will be after he's paid off his tax debt in a year's time?

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MOSagain · 31/01/2013 15:16

I'm not quite sure why you think you are entitled to half of his salary? You are entitled to a fair share of the matrimonial assets, ie a share of the former matrimonial home, possibly his pension and maintenance but this doesn't necessarily mean half of his salary.

You need to seek advice from a family lawyer. Have a look on the Resolution website for one near you.

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Flibbertyjibbet · 31/01/2013 15:18

I don't think you get half his salary.

Any assets ie the house etc will be split, there will be maintenance for the younger children. You may get some spousal support if you lost out on your own career though giving it up to support his.

I saw your other thread the other day. You do still need to start looking at working yourself and not relying on him for money.
I am sure someone more knowledgeable will be along in a minute.

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Gigondas · 31/01/2013 15:20

Agree with everything mos says- get proper advice .

If you are granted ancillary relief , it does usually take into account tax and is also unlikely to represent half his salary unless there are unusual circumstances (eg no significant assets to split which doesn't sound the case here).

Whilst I understand you are worried, you're not going to get a definite answer on Mn or anywhere else on the net.

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gallicgirl · 31/01/2013 15:27

I would also be checking what's in your name and what's in his - just make sure he's not used your name for anything dodgy!

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mumblechum1 · 31/01/2013 21:03

You're going to be expected to at least be trying to find a job, OP. Normally spousal maintenance is only paid if there's enough left over from the husband's salary after he's paid his own costs and child maintenance for the under-18s.

Even then, it's extremely rare for spousal mtce to be paid for life; it's more a way of giving you some breathing space to start becoming independent.

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Corygal · 01/02/2013 14:01

HMRC get first go at the money, OP.

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madgered · 01/02/2013 15:19

Saw Solicitors today. Im not expected to get a job, because of DC. So I don't have to stress about that.

His income will be divided, so that's a relief. The assets have to pay off debt.

Phew. Feeling a bit more secure now.

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ivykaty44 · 01/02/2013 15:25

how would you ever feel secure hanging on to someone you describe as dodgy

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Gigondas · 01/02/2013 15:31

Ivykaty is right-He can also vary maintenance down if his circumstances Change .

Whilst it is good you don't have to find a Job immediately with all the upheaval, it is not going to be something you can put off indefinitely.

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MOSagain · 01/02/2013 15:47

I'm sorry but I don't necessarily agree. I think most Judges (and of course ex-husbands) would expect you to try to find some kind of job. Your youngest is at school full time so technically you would be able to get a part time job. It is not unreasonable though for you to undergo a short period of training in order to enable you to secure a job. You cannot simply sit back and expect to receive spousal maintenance for life although as DH is a high earner that could be a possibility. However, due to what you've said about his financial situation/business dealings, it is not in my opinion, a sure bet that you will get long term spousal maintenance.

He will of course have to pay child maintenance but spousal maintenance is a different issue. Please don't automatically think you are going to get 'x'% of his income.

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mumblechum1 · 01/02/2013 15:54

I agree with MOS. It's extremely unusual to get open ended spousal maintenance unless the wife is disabled ime.

Your solicitor's view is just that. The other side are likely to have a different one, so you should certainly be thinking about at least looking for some sort of work. Apart from anything else, if your husband goes out of business, you'll be in a far better position if you have already built up some sort of independence.

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ihearsounds · 01/02/2013 16:10

Since when has children been a clause to not get a job?

Child maintenance will be a percentage of wages.

Spousal maintenance is usually paid if the other party cannot support themselves.

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Fairylea · 01/02/2013 16:14

How would you not be expected to get a job??

Current rules are once a child reaches 5 you are expected to seek work. From April this will gradually become from 1.

Obviously with your financial situation you may not need to claim benefits but that is the general rule. I don't think your solicitor is right at all.

You will be entitled to maintenance for the children and a share of the assets but not half his salary. At all.

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MOSagain · 01/02/2013 16:21

Fairylea that rule is when one is seeking benefits, which the OP I assume is not doing.
There are occasions when the wife does have the luxury of not having to work and receives spousal maintenance for life, however this really is quite rare and given the husband's financial situation in this case, it does not sound like it will be a dead cert.

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Scrazy · 01/02/2013 16:31

The child support alone might be enough to live off comfortably without the need for the OP to work.

Since when was it a rule that you look for work once your youngest is 5. It is when you are on benefits but that's a totally different situation.

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Fairylea · 01/02/2013 16:32

Yes as I said. IF you claim benefits.

I was just giving an example.

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Scrazy · 01/02/2013 16:34

I should hope that a woman previously married to a man earning 600K would not need to claim benefits.

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Jinsei · 01/02/2013 16:42

I definitely think you need to start considering the long term, OP. Presumably you'll have to return to work at some stage, even if it's when the children are

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Jinsei · 01/02/2013 16:43

I definitely think you need to start considering the long term, OP. Presumably you'll have to return to work at some stage, even if it's when the children are older. Better to get some recent experience in now if you ask me.

Hope you are ok.

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bubbles1231 · 01/02/2013 16:46

You are entitled to a proportion of his pension I think, if you have been a SAHM and therefore not had the opportunity to pay in to one.

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Fairylea · 01/02/2013 17:07

So would I Scrazy. But then the op said her dh had some very dodgy dealings financially and owes nearly £2 MILLION in tax ... so I thought it was worth mentioning in case there was more dodgy stuff to come or indeed that the op doesn't know about.

I also think the op needs to find a job really. Long term this is the only way of securing your financial future and being in control of your own finances.

And I say that as a woman who has been completely left in the lurch by ex husbands... leaving me with debts that mean I had no option but to downsize dramatically and take a minimum wage job in order to provide for myself and my then very young dd.

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madgered · 01/02/2013 18:20

I have been doing some one day cooking classes, so Im not totally expecting to sit back. I will definitely do something but with 23 years out of work it will take some time and serious thinking about.

The tax situation is his only debt. That I know for sure.

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nefertarii · 01/02/2013 18:27

OP I think you may want to seek another opinion on what you have been told.

It is unlikely that you will be given half of your exs wages. especially when your youngest dc is at school.

While its not benefits, its often treated the same. He will not be expected to fully support you when you do not support yourself at all and are able to.

It may take a long time to figure out what you want to do. But get a part time job in the meantime.

What are you hoping the cooking classes will achieve. Are you looking at a job catering? What qualifications will these classes give you.

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colditz · 01/02/2013 18:32

You can't be a sahm to a person over eighteen. If your five year old is your only child under eighteen, you will receive 15% of your exes income after tax. If he has no income after paying his tax, you get nada, I think.

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Fairylea · 01/02/2013 19:18

If cooking interests you can I recommend doing a food hygiene course? I have worked in catering for many years and this will make you more attractive to employers. It would most likely only take a day and you can even do it online.

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