Wife has no job

First of all, hello everyone as I am new to the site. My wife and I (married for 21 years) have recently decided to separate. We have one child currently at home plus another at university. The one at home has special needs (ASD). Neither of us really has a clue what separation involves financially. Currently, we have a vague plan to sell the matrimonial home and buy two smaller properties with the proceeds. We both want the split to be amicable and my wife assures me that she does not want to take me to the cleaners financially ("I'm not one of those women", she says).

I am worried that she has unrealistic expectations about how she will provide for herself and that I will still end up paying the living expenses for both homes (rent/mortgage, bills, food, etc). My wife has no job but does receive some state benefits for our still at home child. She also has a substantial amount of savings in her own account (around £20k).

Right now we are still in the matrimonial home and I am paying all of the living expenses. I pay the utility bills out of my own account and transfer some money into my wife's account for day to day expenses like food, petrol, etc. There is no mortgage on the property.

Can I expect my wife to pay half of the living costs whilst we are in the matrimonial home and after we have moved into separate homes? I feel it is unfair for me to still be paying for everything when the marriage has broken down and she is no longer acting like a wife but more like a lodger whilst simultaneously sitting on a substantial amount of savings and receiving state benefits into her own account.

Thanks in advance for any advice you have to offer.

If you agree to there being no liability for each others properties then that can be the case.

However once your wife talks to solicitors she will likely be steered towards you paying more of her costs.

If she is on benefits the state will likely pay towards some of her costs.