MAINTENANCE PENDING SUIT

I hope someone can help me here as I've posted the question on another thread but am still not clear:

My STBX moved out over a year ago but has been paying into the joint account which we have been using for household expenses for both of us, except for his rent.

Last week my husband 'pulled the rug' - stopped his DD payments into joint account, withdrew a load of money to cover his own living expenses and froze the account. I have opened a fresh account and transferred all the household direct debits so that they don't bounce from the old account. I CANNOT pay all of this on my own. I have been advised not to sell FMH until there is a financial settlement in place. This has beend delayed because my husband has still not completed his Form E as there have been serious issues in relation to him fiddling his accounts.

I need to apply for MPS. Is this calculated on income over the year or the immediate period (he earned a lot earlier in the year, has spent most of it (a lot on luxuries) and is now claiming he is broke. His yearly income (if he presents honest accounts) will be approximately 4 x that of mine.

We have been attending Mediation but I am not sure if there is any point now that he has pulled this latest stunt.

We are at Decree Nisi stage. Both mid fifties and no dependant children.

Hi action, I can't help with your questions, but when I asked my sol about MPS, she quoted £3-5,000 to apply, which would have negated any MPS.
I understand the process is too complicated to attempt yourself, but I hope someone can disprove that.
I get the impression it's used more in very high end cases.

Is he self employed? court look at income annually especially if it goes up and down, is he payed a bonus perhaps.

What CM says is true regarding costs, 3-5k is not unusual though its usually closer to 3k than 5k.

If you can`t afford this it can be done alone without a solicitor, you do have to get the paper work right though.

Make it easy for the judge, this is what i earn this is what me and the kids need and this is what the stbx earns.

Looks like I'll just have to start selling the contents of the house then!

If you can post a bit more information maybe someone can help advise, selling stuff may give some short term relief but long haul you need a better solution.

Thanks Dukey - can you tell me what information is needed? I don't have precise figures for his income in the last financial year yet as he had been fiddling his books and needs to start from scratch with his accountant. I can only make an estimate from the draft accounts that I have seen and how much astray I believe them to be from his false accounting.

OMG this is almost word for word what is happening to me!
i cant believe that they do this, knowing that his 3 children will suffer as a consequence of his actions...grrrrrr