Unilateral divorce without papers

1. Unilateral divorce without papers

When separating, you will need to think about how to divide money and assets. Two of the most important decisions you can make are what you want to do with your home and how your pension will be divided if you have one.
Try to give yourself time before making a decision. It will be much easier to reach an agreement if you and your ex are willing to talk.
You can come to an agreement, but you should usually talk to a lawyer once you've decided what you want to do. You can find family law attorneys on the Resolution website.
It's important to be honest about your finances. If you aren't honest and your ex later finds out that you tried to hide something, they can go to court and ask you for more money.

2. If your ex-partner usually manages the money

If possible, review your finances together. If this isn't possible or you're worried about settling money with your ex, ask your ex if they'd come to reconcile with you. Mediation is a cost-effective way to try to resolve disputes over money and property. You will both need to complete a financial disclosure form when attending mediation. This shows how much money you spend and bring in and is a good starting point for discussions.

3. Determine what to do with your home

What you do with your home depends on both of your abilities to live separately, the value (“equity”) of the home, and whether you have children.
Your ex-spouse can continue to pay the mortgage on your home, or at least pay a portion of the payments after he or she leaves. However, you will need to come to a more permanent agreement. For example, it might be better to get clean so you and your ex can rent or buy separate houses.

4. If you want to stay in the house and buy out your ex-partner

You can buy out your ex-partner to own the house. However, even if you reach an agreement on this matter, the mortgage company will want to know that you can afford to pay the mortgage payments yourself.
This can be very difficult if you don't work or only work part-time because you're taking care of children. If you can't afford your mortgage payments, ask your mortgage company if they will let you switch to an interest-only mortgage. This will reduce your monthly payments.
You should ask your mortgage lender if they will give you a mortgage in your own name. Even if they can, you may be able to get a better deal, so you should speak to a mortgage or financial adviser. They may be able to recommend other things you can try. If you can't buy out your ex-partner, you can try to reach another agreement. For example, if you have children, you can stay in the same house with them until your youngest child turns 18 or graduates from high school. Then you can sell the house.
This can be difficult to arrange, so you should seek legal advice. You can find family law attorneys on the Resolution website.

5. If you want to sell your house

Talk about it with your ex-partner. It makes more sense for one of you to stay in the house if there isn't a lot of "equity" in it. Equity is the amount of money left over from the sale after you have paid off your mortgage. Talk to a real estate agent if you want to know how much your house is worth. You should get 3 different reviews so you can choose from a variety of selling prices. You should also check with your bank or building society to find out how much you have left on your mortgage.
Once you know what is fair, try to agree with your ex on what you will do. Then talk to a lawyer.
Determining how to divide equity between you is complex and depends on a number of factors, including:
How much do you both earn?
If you have money or other assets
your needs and responsibilities, for example if you have children
How long have you been married or in a civil partnership?
How much each person contributed to the relationship - financially and emotionally
A lawyer can tell you what you will be entitled to if you sell your home.

Q&A

Question 1: What is a unilateral divorce without property disputes?

Question 2: How does a unilateral divorce without property disputes typically proceed?

Question 3: What are the advantages of a unilateral divorce without property disputes?

Question 4: Are there any specific legal requirements or documentation needed for a unilateral divorce without property disputes?