Another one needing advice on asset split

We're attending mediation at the moment, got the third meeting next week. This week we have both been to see our solicitors.

Unsurprisingly, they are telling us completely different things.

Stbx made an offer of 66/33 split as a clean break. My sol said that is not unreasonable but I am entitled to half his pension fund + maintenance.

We have been married 38 years
I am 57
He is 59
We have one child with 2 years left to go at Uni.
He earns 34000 net
I don't work (would be nice if I could get a job but have no qualifications or CV)

When and if the home can be sold, we will have approx £200,000 to split. A 2 bed house in my area is going to cost £120/£130.
Ex is renting a room in a shared house.

Any thoughts please?

I'm sure a legal person will be along soon but in the meantime just posting so I can keep an eye on this as it's relevant to my case too. I would advise concentrating on your needs, i.e. can you raise a mortgage? Presumably the answer to this is NO but your husband can, so you'll need enough cash to buy a property outright. Also, what are you going to live off once you are divorced? Is 66% enough for a house and to pay your bills?

It's one thing being told what you might get by a solicitor but what are your husband's expectations - are they really a long way away from what you would be happy with?

Good luck and I'll keep watching to see how you get on.

He has actually upped his offer a little now and I would be able to afford a house but would have zero income and no share of his pension. Doesn't make sense to me. Also just had a phone call from him, warning me that I will soon be receiving the court petition. Don't know what that means either

I assume the court petition is the divorce petition. Is he divorcing you? I am divorcing my husband but took the precaution of getting to agree to the terms for Unreasonable behaviour before I went ahead.

Is your Mediator helping you to fill in Form E? That's what our Mediator is doing, as it's the only real way of seeing the finances as a complete picture. It also gives you the chance to consider what you have contributed to the marriage in terms other than financial, e.g. giving up a career to raise children etc. When did you last work? I think courts expect a certain amount of effort to gain employment but if you haven't worked for years then I imagine it will be pretty difficult to get a job. Have you looked into what benefits you might be entitled to. Splits are made according to needs of each party and the ability to pay. Have you produced a monthly expenses schedule of what you're paying out now and what you will need to pay out when you are living on your own? That will help to give you a better idea of what your survival budget is. I can send you an excel template if you like? I'm trying to look at a figure that is fair and reasonable and will give a parity to lifestyle.

Which way is the split 66/33 in your favour or his??

hi Elainej - money it is so difficult, you really need to figure out how much it will cost to live, i was amazed how much it was when i worked it out, be careful.

Doesn't seem to matter how much I look at the figures. I would be able to buy a house and then perhaps have £15/20,000 leftover to live on till I get a pension in 9 years time(£102 per week). The only benefit I can get is jsa £67 a week and that isn't enough to run a house. Oh, and free council tax.
Meanwhile he gets to keep all his earnings and pension and have about £40,000 lump sum. He may not be able to buy a house but at least he can afford to live