Do I really want to give all our money to a sol

ok.

So its not really amicable anymore, but having gone through things in my head there is really not that much money in our "equity pot" in fact I think her share is about £15k (depending upon the housing market:laugh:).

i cant really afford to go down the sol route, but worry that as she will get legal aid she will get one (she always says she will consult with sol), in fact I can barely afford to buy her out of the house but have taken out a loan for an initial amount and then also to pay the overdraft that was in the joint account.

I'm well educated (degree) so just wondering if the d word and the other finance bits can be done by me self repping.

Thoughts and experience please

You can self-rep. Lots of info on here.
However, you could also post the answers to the questions that divorce lawyer posted here;

www.wikivorce.com/divorce/Divorce-Forum/...G-IN-THIS-FORUM.html

and you'll get a ball park figure of what you could expect.... and maybe get Consent Order etc drawn up.

Any debt used for the benefit of the party; is JOINT debt,why are you assuming her share of things if there is joint debt?

Post the info, you'll get a good idea if it is worth fighting.

Thanks

I've done the calculations in my head and spoken to sols (separated for about a year now).

Took out the loan so that I can buy her out of the house as at the moment it is empty (she's moved in with the new fella back in Feb 08) and I now want to move back in (mum and dad's patience is starting to wear a little bit thin after a year and I have the kiddies almost 50:50), so as far as I'm concerned that is my debt

GA,

Perhaps you should gently remind her that legal aid is a LOAN and NOT a GIFT!!!
It will have to be paid back from any settlement she gets.

My ex racked up £20k in legal aid bills .. he will now have to have that as a charge against any property he buys ... with 8% pa interest racking up ..

If there is not enough to buy a property from the settlement, the LA bill will have to be paid from any cash received.

Please do make absolutely sure you have got your sums right and do take advantage of the help wiki can offer - especially if you are going to self rep.

Please do bear in mind though that the number one priority is going to be housing the children and the PWC - parent with care. This is not as simple as a percentage split - and certainly not a 50:50 one .. and all stuff like savings, pensions etc have to be included in the calculations.

Take a look at section 25 of the 1973 Matrimonial Causes Act .. that sets out what matters when finances are split.

Hadenoughnow