Ex husband's entitlement to property and finances

Posted by: Amy
15/03/10 at 10:44 am

I was married for 3 years, got my decree absolute 2 months ago in Jan 2010.

I own a porperty before marriage, and we bought another property in joint names 1 year into our marriage, where I put in all the money for the deposit. The mortgage is in our joint names, where we were contributing 50-50 into it. In the latter years of our marriage, he couldn't afford to keep up with the payments, and reduced it gradually, until he stopped paying into the mortgage and stopped paying any bills prior to us separating. I divorced him because he is an alcoholic, and couldn't have children, and I was in a relationship where there was no communication due to his alcoholism, and I was threading carefully around the house in his presence as he is always drunk.

He moved out in Nov 09 after the divorce proceedings started in Sep 09. Prior to him moving out, he got fired from his job, presumed reasons due to his alcoholim. There was a delay when nothing progressed, and I discovered after contacting him that he couldn't afford his solicitors fees, so I told him to seek legal aid, which he eventually got months later.

Meantime he developed health problems affecting his eyesight which further impedes his progress with looking for a job, he was receiving job seekers allowance. He had no sign of this health issue until April 09.

Initially he agreed to sign the consent order, where, as it was a short marriage, we take away what we put in, so I keep the property.

Now he's changed his mind, and refused to sign the transfer of equity, and says he will fight me for every penny (his own words!) and wants £20000, and that he'll go to court if necessary. He claims as the Transfer of Equity papers aren't covered under legal aid, and he has no money to pay them. I then offered to lend him some money for that but he says he can't return it and there's no point in borrowing any money, and he says what's the point in borrowing money for something he doesn't want!

I thought I'd be celebrating when I got the decree absolute, but I'm feeling so down and drained by him not signing the papers as I can't get closure, and really want to move on.

Any advise/support would be graciously welcome!!