Does calculator ever give 50:50

i was playing with the calculator. It''s been helpful to do that. I did manage to work out what I did about my pension that I''ve already taken.

My pension take home pay is almost identical to my husbands take home from his work. His pension will be smaller than mine when he takes it.

I''ve only a 16 year at home. When I put in 6 days with me 1 with my husband the calculator said 60:40 in my favour.
I changed it to 3.5 3.5 days and it was changed to 40:60, 60% in my husbands favour. When I went to 4 days with me it reverted back to 60% in my favour.

I''d put expenses down as the same and listed assets fairly. What do I do to get it 50:50?

To be honest, I think the calculator is a waste of space.

I can''t help but recall that I used to advise on a site called wifesgone which, as the name implies,was rather geared to giving advice to divorcing men, although ladies did often post and, more surprisingly, the posts were answered.

One day, someone posted something which said, "On no account let your wife see this site called wikivorce ! It''s got a '' Divorce Calculator '' which scares t he **** out of me " and I went on it to see what all the fuss was about - and have been on wiki ever since.

That is quite a while ago. About nine years, I think.

Pensions are only one aspect of a divorce. There are others - most obviously where the parties will live when it''s all over, who gets what assets, whether either party pays maintenance or child support to the other, and so on.

Pensions are a VERY specialised subject, and we would not advise on it except in very general terms. Sometimes what happens is that there is a trade off between spouses - for example, the wife keeps the house and the husband keeps his pension. The overall objective is fairness between the divorcing spouses. In making its judgment, a Court has to consider various factors/criteria in section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.

I think, to be honest, you are following a false trail.There is quite a lot of advice in t he wiki library which should be a lot more useful.

LMM

Would I have to include a value to my pension if I''ve already taken it? I''ve no chance of increasing it. It gives me an income almost equal to my husbands. Obviously his pension when he takes it will be less than mine, but he could work for up to another 12 years or so. I was medically retired and if I do any work I lose £10,000 pension.

Stressed Spouse;

In defence of the calculator, it is not designed to give users a complete calculation, it is designed (as stated on the page) "to give a very rough estimate of a fair financial settlement ­­­base­­­d on a limited set of criteria". It is designed to crunch numbers and can''t take into account the numerous different variables of each user, and the varying needs of the parties. The disclaimer states "Do not rely on the results of the divorce calculator.The calculator provides only a very rough indication and the ambiguity of the law plus the limited data it uses as input means that the results may not be accurate and should be treated with caution".

The calculator is the very first of it''s kind, and while it has limited use, the best way to obtain information and advice on one''s financial settlement is to use the forum and to use the Wikivorce financial Consultation service.

Members may be able to give you some advice on what a potential fair division of assets could be if you are able to provide the following information:

Your respective ages;

The number of children you have and their ages;

How many nights the children spend with each parent;

The length of your marriage and any period of pre marriage cohabitation;

Your respective incomes;

Your respective outgoings;

Your assets - both solely held and joint;

Your liabilities.

Any other information that may be relevant, is long-term health issues, caring for elderly parents etc

We''re both 54''

Married 30.5 years, cohabited for 3 years before (whilst students).

He earns £68,000, my pension is £54,000. Our take home is almost identical £3,500 per month. I own half a property net income £500 per month. He owns 10 properties net income £1,250 per month.

Savings about £200,000

House worth £500,000

Equity in rentals £400,000

Equity in my half property £100,000

Endowment due 2018 £70,000

His pension worth about £500,000

My pension IF INCLUDED if already taken is worth £1000000. The lump sum part was used to pay off our mortgage and some of the rentals.

3 children 16, 19, and 21. 19 and 21 year old at university we top up by £9000 altogether.

We currently live together so expenses are the same.

If separate the 16 year old would live with me. I think the other two children would spend more university holidays with me.

I am long term unfit for work, I have cervical myelopathy which is causing me long term chronic fatigue type symptoms and I have chronic pain. I have some bladder and bowel disturbance. There is a small risk of quadriplegia.

I worked out that in a 50:50 split if I wanted the house I would only get 78% of it and my pension and nothing else.

If I take half the house value I could take the 5 rentals with least equity (£50,000 only equity would be worth about a third of the overall income), keep my half property and take half our savings. If I could get 60:40 as I have poor health and the 16 year old that would help. It could be that he will be 18 by the time that we work things out....

I know we have a lot of assets but I could end up owing my husband a balance on my house and having only my pension. He would get £200,000 savings plus £70,000 endowment, he would get 10.5 properties with a net income of £21,000 per year, and £500,000 equity and his pension £500,000 which will be building in value and over £100,000 from me that I don''t have....

Help!