Sorting finances

Hi all ,
can anyone tell me how long I can hold out before the finances are sorted .
I have filed for divorce but have not had a reply yet.
At the moment i am happy with the way things are .
He is paying 60% towards monthly outgoings .
My sol has suggested to go for Clean Break and not ask for spousal maintenance ,so I will be worse off - 2 kids so only be getting CM.
He left 6 months ago and is living in his girlfriends house but also rents a flat so the kids can visit.
Thanks

Really, nobody could answer this without knowing your circumstances.

If you are in immediate financial difficulties ( which, from your post, does not seem to be the case ) you could ask for maintenance pending suit.

And, as always, I recommend you review your benefits, especially tax credits, following your separation.

LMM

I didn''t realise I could do that until the finances were sorted as the circumstances may change at any point .
No I am not in any financial difficulty - he is !
That is why i want to keep it as it is at the moment .
His net monthly income is £3ooo , mine is £1800 , he decided with his Dads input that for the moment he would pay 60% towards outgoings .Although that just pays the bills ,not anything for the kids .
We were married 18 yrs,together 25 .
What else do you need to know ?

In view of what you say, MPS seems like an avenue which is not worth pursuing just now but as you say circumstances can change.

You say you have petitioned for divorce and, I assume, made a claim for a financial order either in the Petition or Form A or more likely both.

I don''t know how long this takes ; but I see you have a solicitor, and he would know your local courts better than I do and should be able to give you some idea.

LMM

Thanks LMM ,
no we didn''t make a claim for financial order , only contact .
I was really wondering if you have to have the finances sorted before the Absolute or not ?

You don''t HAVE to have the finances sorted before Absolute. But in some circumstances it may be disadvantageous for it to be granted before the financials are sorted.

As for your original question, how long can you go without changing the status quo, well the answer is until a court orders otherwise. But if he stops paying voluntarily, then what will you do? You will not have any court orders or maintenance orders so you won''t be able to do much, other than start the process off right form the beginning... meanwhile you have no maintenance income.

OK - understood
If he stops paying and therefore is not contributing to mortgage or CM - is that in my favour or does it not make any difference?
As you can tell I have no idea what is going on here and my mind is in a complete muddle.
If he stops paying ,I can manage anyway as I said , I''m not going for SM.I want to be rid of him eventually and stand on my own 2 feet .But for the moment enjoying the extra income he is giving me .