Ex Demanding more

Hi,

Been divorced for a couple of years now. The Ex is living in rented accommodation with our son. I am paying maintenance every month.

She is demanding that I now provide a stable house (i.e. I buy a house and give it to her) so that it will give security to my son that lives with her.

She is threatening to take me to court.

Does she have any grounds that could be upheld that would require me to purchase a house and give it to her?

Obviously I cannot afford this and would have to sell my mortgaged property making myself homeless and would have no money to secure my own housing.

Any advice appreciated

The priority with divorce settlements is the welfare of dependent children and it''s unlikely a court would leave your son and his main carer living in rented accommodation whilst you can afford to own your property.

That doesn''t mean you have to buy her a property outright, but you may need to raise money or sell the property and downsize to release some equity to give your former wife a "fair" share of the "pot" as a deposit for a home. The matrimonial pot is the value of any assets (including pensions, savings and investments) held in sole and joint names.

If you bought that house after you got divorced she cannot touch you

Thanks for prompt reply. The matromonial home was sold prior to the divorce and the equity was shared equally. Additional Settlements in terms of money where made as part of the proceedings. She moved into rented and I was left homeless. In the years since the divorce I have managed to clear the debt that I was left with and get in the property ladder.

Yes I purchased my house about 3 years after the divorce...

Did you get a Consent Order signed at the time of divorce?