spousal maintenance

After bills, mortgage...credit cards..I am left with £600. My wife earns less and is left with around £150.
She instigated the break by having an affair and claiming she wanted to be single. I have my son,12, in the family home 4/5 nights a week and my eldest, 19, 24/7.
My wife has claimed she will take me for every penny I have..via spousal maintenance...for life. I begi mediation in 3 weeks...surely my family should benefit from my earnings, not somebody who decided she wanted only limited connections with me and children.
Is the law able to look beyond the cause of the heartache..devastation and expect me to work all hours at home and in the factory so I can sponsor this leech's single lifestyle.

First how much is your income and how much is hers?

How old are you both?

What assets have you got?

To get spousal maintenance she would need to prove a need and that you have the disposable income after bills etc to be able to pay for her needs.

If your youngest is with you 4/5 nights a week then you would be considered the PWC so your ex should be paying you child maintenance.

Its all bluff and double bluff.

I am the earner, I pull in 2600pm..she only 300pm. When i got my job with its high money she downgraded to 2 hours a day from being Legal Sec, said she was depressed. Now she at gym in mornings and evenings, working lunches only. She has intimated that she did these hours for the kids...Rubbish, I fed them and took them to school..or picked up depending on shift.
I cannot bear to think of working all hours and keeping her in fancy shoes and drinks..
I have allowed her to divorce me to save money and the papers came back saying I had been violent...wtf..never touched anybody in my whole life.
Assets...my pension..14k..house negligible..2 cars 3k...debts of 20k..thanks

Are the children living with you or her?

Youngest 12, stays with me over last 19 months 4-5 nights a week...eldest 19..here 24/7.

Sorry more questions. Who claims the child benefit?

Who is the main care giver for the 12year old?

If you can establish that in fact you are the parent with care not her then her claims become much weaker.

However if she it the parent with care, then you might end up paying sm as well as child maintenance.

I have allowed her to claim the child benefit to keep her out of my pockets...I was wondering if it would be wise to inform benefit office of lads sleeping arrangements.. she makes a big deal out of her being main carer..even tho she has so little time with him. I worked out over the last 19 months I have had boys 78% of the time. Eldest not in college now, but I obviously cared for him completely & still do in washing, ironing and feeding.