Ex Wife Paperwork

[Biker 1]

My divorce was finalised a few months back - ex moved out & took most of her stuff, but has left several files of credit/store card statements, tax documents, payslips etc. I contacted her a couple of weeks back asking that she picked it up, but no reply. I am loath to just dump it all, but CBA to keep chasing.
So the question is: do I have any legal obligation to hang on to this stuff until she finally picks it up, or can I just chuck it in the bin?? The alternative is to box it up & dump it next to her front door, but this would probably be like stirring up a hornets' nest.........

[Teddy Lop]

Chucking it in a bin could lead to grief. Witnessed destruction might be clevererer.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Surely the best solution is to send a recorded letter stating that she must collect her things by a certain date, after which you will dispose of them.

Ball firmly in her court.

[mcflurry]

can't you post it all to her?

[hutchst]

Surely the best solution is to hang on to them for a couple of years?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

mcflurry said:

can't you post it all to her?

You can send quite a big box by courier for just a few quid.

[Biker 1]

I don't want to spend any more £££ on this crap, so not keen on the postal option! I just wondered if there are legal implications if I disposed of it all, as documents include tax returns, P60s, etc.

[BrabusMog]

Biker 1 said:

I don't want to spend any more £££ on this crap, so not keen on the postal option! I just wondered if there are legal implications if I disposed of it all, as documents include tax returns, P60s, etc.

Wouldn't it be wiser to just spend a few extra ££ sending it to her via signed for delivery with proof of delivery so that you can just draw a line under this and properly move on? If there are any implications then you'll be stuck with even more hassle.

[hyphen]

Ham_and_Jam said:

Surely the best solution is to send a recorded letter stating that she must collect her things by a certain date, after which you will dispose of them.

Ball firmly in her court.

+1

Landlords do this all the time with tenants leaving stuff behind.

Serve notice. Destroy.

Nothing you mention is sentimental nor irreplaceable.

[theboss]

I wouldn’t dump it personally. Shred it, burn it, post it or drop it on her doorstep in a box. Treat it as business. Not worth getting annoyed about.

[Collectingbrass]

I had a lot of stuff from my ex when we split and I think she just didn't want to face dealing with it, or talk to me about it. I would post recorded delivery that which needs to be retained (tax records like P60s have to be retained for 6 years I think but I'm not a lawyer and I'm an inveterate horder so have kept mine since I started work 30 years ago) and ask her what she wants with the rest.

I would though make sure none of the rest are joint accounts, and if any is that you know about it and that you can remove yourself from it. Likewise any child tax credits.

[Helicopter123]

Box it up, a courier will pick it up and deliver for under a tenner.

[A1VDY]

Go round to hers and post it all through the letter box bit by bit. As it's all coming through she can sort it out the other side..

[elanfan]

If her parents are close by why not give them a ring, explain you don’t want any grief but she’s ignoring you so would they take it or collect it?

[Zarco]

theboss said:

I wouldn’t dump it personally. Shred it, burn it, post it or drop it on her doorstep in a box. Treat it as business. Not worth getting annoyed about.

This.

[un1corn]

I'd be cautious destroying these things. It's a licence for her to make all sorts of complaint and allegations.

I'd post them all to her via courier then you have proof that you've done everything within your power to get rid legally without having contact.

[jondude]

They sound like the kind of documents deliberately left behind to keep complaints against you open.

While of course it has been and probably still is a stressful time for you and you feel you have done enough, I would really consider the options above about getting the documents to her.

I cannot know if she has left them deliberately to cause trouble (maybe she already has copies anyhow) but just having that niggling feeling I would either drive them to her personally or get a friend to do so, so it is official she got them.

Or signed for by courier at the very least.

[fwaggie]

Put each sheet through her letter box.

One by one. (not one a day obv., in one session so there's a mound of paper on the other side of the door)

Or post a few bundles of them in unstamped envelopes so she has to pay to receive it.

[Buster73]

Helicopter123 said:

Box it up, a courier will pick it up and deliver for under a tenner.

The easiest non confrontational solution .

A tenner , job done , nothing more to give you grief , it’ll be the best £10 you’ve spent.

[jet_noise]

Put it in the loft.
Out of sight out of mind unless you move or she does ask.