Splitting the house in a divorce

[The0perator]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 18 July 2025 at 09:05

[BlackStang5point0]

I got divorced.

We valued the family home minus the outstanding mortgage. We split the remaining equity 50:50.

I wanted to stay in the house so paid her 50% share by remortgaging. It still p1sses me off as the house would've been paid off 4 years ago now

[Ry.Clarke]

Standard is 50/50 unless you had the paperwork drawn up when buying to say otherwise - doesn’t sound like you did.

You’re in the right path with the rest.

In my own experience it’s usually easier to call it half’s and get it done quick, otherwise you’re going to be looking at bigger solicitor fees than the value you may have gained.

[clarkey]

I'm going through it. Forget any concept of 'fair'.

The starting point is the ability of each party to pay a mortgage. So if one earns more than the other, they can have a larger mortgage, so may get a smaller slice of the equity. The starting point may be 50/50, but if that doesn't give the one who earns less the ability to afford a reasonable home, it won't end up 50/50.

Unless you manage to agree 50/50 of course, but I would still suggest that you get an agreement written up by a mediator to show that it was agreed by both parties. Financial mediation is very cheap or even free depending on income levels.

[Joe5y]

I pay 80% of the mortgage. She works part-time BUT looks after our son, I'd expect it to be a 50:50 split if we were to divorce. In reality, I fear I would come away with less.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

clarkey said:

I'm going through it. Forget any concept of 'fair'.

.

100% this, in my experience the wife automatically thinks "the house is mine", even if she has never contributed a penny. If you have children this goes double.

Good luck, 11 years since my divorce and my ex and I still talk about money on a weekly basis as we have children. I am playing the long game, eldest is off to university in September and in two years my youngest will be going too.

I will be having a big party once I no longer have to give her any money. I think she realises the end is in sight (she is also losing the child allowance) and is starting to panic.

You have to play the long game if you are a man getting divorced. Life is much sweeter in the long run despite the financial kick in the bks.

[YouWhat]

In England there are no rules to say who gets what in a divorce, my ex and I agreed and signed off a consent order only for the Judge to decide it wasn’t fair and gave more to her. So don’t bank on anything until the judge signs it off.

[ChocolateFrog]

JC this makes depressing reading.