Can he take my childrens home?

Presumably the natural father of the older children also pays child support?

jaycee, divorce settlements depend upon the overall circumstances and it's difficult to comment without knowing the value of assets (including pensions) and liabilities held in sole and joint names, respective incomes, the duration of the relationship (marriage + cohabitation before and your ages.

The welfare, in particular the housing needs, of dependent children of the family (all the children that lived with as family not just natural children of the marriage) is the priority and may justify a larger share of equity in your favour. Both parties' mortgage raising capabilities are also a factor. Assuming there isn't a great deal of difference in ages a spouse on a lower income will be able to raise less mortgage and require a larger share of capital to leave them in the same position as a spouse on a higher income who can raise a higher mortgage.

If you cannot release your husband his name will remain on the mortgage and as long as the payments are met him loosing his job shouldn't be a problem.

To DRSOXs comment...

I have never asked for child support from either of the fathers as I see it being up to them if they want to support their children. If you have read my post you would realise that I offered to pay half of the mortgage as well as paying all household bills and the childrens upbringing. The amount of children I have is irrelevent. I have over the years since having my children continued to bring them up as best I can with no support, even whilst I was with my ex he did not support my older children apart from paying the mortgage.
My concern is not how much he or I should get from the eventual sale of the house but whether or not I will be able to continue to secure a home for my children and myself.
I have never asked for anything more than I should have and in fact maybe I should have asked for child support from the older childrens father.

I pride myself on how my 2 older boys have turned out as one is going in the forces as an Officer and my other son is currently in college with all the academic results he requires and will eventually exceed in his career too. I hope people do not stereotype me just because I am a single mother with 6 children, I am well able to cope on my own.

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion.

Ignore that comment about your 6 children.

I have 3 children and 2 are now at university. Their father who I was married to tried to destroy me (and indirectly them) financially, but didnt win

Be proud of the way you have brought/are bringing up your children.

I do agree that everyone is entitled to their opinion.

However, people might be well advised to avoid making assumptions about single parents. This original poster did not ask to have a feckless husband who has walked out on his responsibilities.

What the ex has done would be very hard to justify. He has done a runner and we are only left with the one line comment from the old sage Dr sox in his defence. It would be great if he could elaborate on his theories.

Wikivorce is a support forum. We are not here to judge - and for what its worth I too think it sounds like jaycee has done a fantastic job with her children. Like SW I have three children - 2 at uni - one doing as Masters after a first class honours and the other in Year 2 as well as a younger child at college. I have brought them up entirely alone for 7 years - and tbh was pretty much on my own for a long time before.

Let's get back to the original question from Jaycee and see how we can support her.

Fiona has explained things very well. I would suggest also having a look at this post

http://www.wikivorce.com/divorce/Divorce-Advice/Property-and- Mortgages/233596-Who-gets-the- house.html

and if you can answer the questions in there we can give more constructive advice.

Hadenoughnow

A post has been deleted, the member responsible has been contacted to explain why.

WR

Just a short note to thank all of you for your support