How do you deal with failing mediation?

If it is a tin pot company, as you suggest, why don't the two of you agree to put its value as nil or £500 or whatever is a reasonable estimate - and show it in your documentation as an agreed value. That should enable you to move forward without having to wait for accurate figures.

However, do remember that, if the company turns out to be worth a lot more, you are unlikely to benefit from the increased value unless provision has been made in the agreement for what should happen in such an event.

The potential for your husband to benefit (at your expense) might encourage him to push on with coming to an agreement on the division of your finances.

If your mediator doesn't like this idea, remind him that it is your agreement and not his!

When I say it's a tin pot Company I mean it is not a multi national Company that needs the major computer infrastructure that he seems to think it needs. He is a computer nerd/geek!! The only thing the Company is there for is so that he can work and get paid as an IT contractor and DJ. So far the computers he has have taken over the outside shed (which has been converted with a steel security door), a 10 x 8 storage container in the garden (along with another one) and another ­meta­l container. We also have computers in the dining room, albeit not as many as there were.

The value of the Company is not straightforward. It has "assets" such as computers and disco equipment worth about £25/35K. These were bought by him and need to be transferred to the Company in order to balance books because of the money he has taken out to pay mortgage, bills, etc. His money goes through the Company. He has potential debts of Income Tax, VAT, Corporation Tax and also the threat of another 6figure Income Tax bill because he used to be paid off-shore and there is a test case going through at the moment.

Most of this accounting should have been done several years ago and he was given till October last year to file his personal tax returns but hasn't done so!!!

At the moment I do not think that mediation will get us anywhere because he won't actually get on and do anything!!! I don't want much, I am not going all out to bankrupt him or force him to sell all his wordly goods (which is what he thinks will happen!!) but I do want something.

In that case, why don't you see if you can come to an agreed value of, say, £30,000?

The amount owing in tax etc should also be taken into account. See if you can come to an agreement over the size of those too, rather than wait for accurate figures.