Protecting yourself and your children

What can I do if my ex becomes violent or threatening?

You must speak to a solicitor immediately as your lawyer can, if necessary, obtain an injunction (called an 'interdict' in Scotland) from a judge within a matter of hours. If your spouse breaches the injunction and continues to be violent, the judge can hold your spouse in contempt of court, and your spouse may be liable to imprisonment.

You can also obtain what is known as an occupation order (in Scotland called an 'exclusion order') preventing your spouse from entering the matrimonial home.

But there has to be up-to-date evidence of physical violence or some other serious form of harassment for such on order to be granted.

What can I do if my ex is harassing me?

You can obtain what is known as a 'non-molestation injunction' (called a 'non-harassment order' in Scotland) if your spouse persists in harassing you, telephoning you or visiting the property where you are living.

This order prevents your spouse from harassing, assaulting or intimidating you and your children. The penalty for breaching a non-molestation injunction can be imprisonment.

Protecting your property

My ex is trying to hide assets; what can I do about it?

When going through a divorce, it's not uncommon for one or both spouses to conceal or hide their assets so that they cannot be considered by the court.

If you know that your spouse owns assets which you believe they are attempting to transfer, conceal or put in trust, you may want the court to freeze them. To assist the court, gather as much information as possible concerning the asset, including its location. For example, it would help to have details of your spouse's bank account.

What can I do to protect my interest in a matrimonial home which is owned in the sole name of my ex? 

In England and Wales, to prevent your spouse from selling or mortgaging the property, you can register a Notice in the Charges Register against the property by completing form MH1 - Application for registration of a notice of matrimonial home rights, if you property is registered land. 

If your property is unregistered land, you must register a class F Land Charge at the Central Land Charges Registry in Plymouth. 

To find out whether the property is registered or not, contact the Land Registry who will explain the procedure; a small fee is payable.
 
In Scotland, even if the matrimonial home is in the sole name of your spouse, they still need to obtain written consent from you before they can sell the property. If your spouse has other property in their sole name other than the matrimonial home, once divorce proceedings have been raised, an 'inhibition' can be obtained to prevent your spouse from selling any property in their name. You will need to speak to a solicitor to obtain an inhibition, which is a court order preventing the sale of the property.

What can I do if my spouse refuses to sell or leave the matrimonial home or consent to a divorce? 

A piece of legislation called the 'Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act' (which doesn't apply in Scotland) allows the court to order the property to be sold, but such proceedings are often drawn out and complicated in themselves and should not be considered without the advice of a solicitor.

Can I change the locks?

You are not entitled to change the locks even for your own protection, unless you have first obtained an ouster injunction (called an 'exclusion order' in Scotland).

Protecting your income and financial security

What can I do if my ex has discontinued support?

If your spouse continues to pay the mortgage or rent and provides for the family's needs as before, then no court action is necessary. But if the supporting spouse (usually the husband) discontinues support, the other spouse (usually the wife) can apply to the court for all forms of financial relief once the petition for divorce has been lodged; before that, you can apply for maintenance only but this application has to be brought in a family proceedings court (part of the Magistrates Court). An application to the Child Support Agency may also be necessary.

The court seeks to maintain the financial stability of both spouses. It, therefore, usually orders the husband to pay temporary income to his wife ('maintenance pending suit', or 'interim aliment' in Scotland) until long-term arrangements have been resolved.

Law stated as at 1 January 2009.

More information
Get more expert guidance on divorce with Lawpack's Separation & Divorce Kit
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