Thanks for the replys guys.

Have to ask a question regarding Child benefit because at the moment I receive that. Can I claim to be the resident parent as it seems to me they get a way better deal and I am quite happy being wiith the kids?

Thanks for the honest reply Cia and the advice on mortgage and solicitors letters.

Im not too sure what you mean 70/30 split~ is that on board and lodging and if so 70/30 which way?

If I am saddled with a large debt , will this reduce the amount I have to pay in maintenance?

Will post on that board, any one know of a more suitable divorce/seperation board?......I tried looking in my IT phobic way but couldn't find one.

Hard to start this, but got to somewhere. If you know something about divorce and the law please read on otherwise save yourself and click next topic.

Basically Missus wants out and I cant get any legal help until an appointment in the new year. I'm really ignorant on the subject, but I really could do with some idea of where I stand in the meantime as not knowing is haunting me. So if you have been divorced or even better if you are lawyer trained I would appreciate some response , even if it isn't particularly good news. It's the legal position that I am after , emotional will be hard but I have things planned to a certain extent to keep me busy, so think I can handle that myself.

Basics of situation. Married 6 years , 2 kids ( 2 & 6), she is the one petitioning for a divorce under unreasonable behaviour although I feel there is not one particular that is true or holds up. However we haven't been getting on, I would like to try and stay to work it out for kids sake but I fail to see her changing her mind.

I have the house on a mortgage under my name, although there is very little equity if any in it if I have to sell I think in the current climate. I earn £40k and my wife owns a business which makes her very little ( £8k- £12k I guess as I have never seen the books properly) but with that she has a business property with equity of about £60k.
I have C/card debts of £12k, which have been accumulated keeping the family afloat as we my wife had some medical problems that stopped her working for a while and the kids of course. I pay for all bills~ mortgage , utilities, food etc and have accumulated this debt through this. Wifes only expense is a small monthly nursery bill.
I am led to believe that she is looking to sell the business property to a family member at a nominal cost, so that she can keep working there and protect the value for herself. We had always seen this as part of "our future" and I am greatly concerned that I am going to be left with none of it and saddled with the C/card debts and maybe even negative equity on the mortgage, care of the kids board and lodging also not to mention child mainenance payments and some claim on my pension.

Can anyone put me in the clear on the financial situation. Also I fail to see a way now of reconcilling, but would it be to my advantantage to stall or refuse a divorce so I can get myself sorted. Also should I try and reduce or holiday on mortgage payments in the meantime?

please feel free to pm me if you feel that is better way than public response. Serious advice would be greatly appreciated.