How do I protect my interest?

Posted by: tony
07/07/09 at 9:02 am

Hi, I need some legal advice on where I stand with my wife (if we were to split up/divorce - God forbid, as a last resort). We are both Muslims and have had the Islamic marriage over a year ago (that's since when we've been together as partners). We have not had the English registry marriage yet. We've no children (although she would like one!) and live with my parents. I own a house (mortgaged, purchased about 1 year before we got married). This is in my name as I have invested about £75-80k in it, including the deposit. I intend to rent this out following some more work. We both work and she earns about £10k more than me (she is a lawyer!) and I am in the manufacturing industry. She is intending to buy another property for us to live in together in her name (although she would like me on the mortgage agreement but I already have one and not sure whether it is possible as I don't earn that much to contribute to another mortgage. I pay the mortgage and all bills for my house I own and she has not contributed to it in any way. We don't have any accounts together, although we both put a small fixed amount of money each month to an account she has for spending money/holidays etc. Can someone tell me where I would stand if the worst is to happen and we split-up or divorce? Thanks, Tony