Hi all, the situation described is as I understand it now. Basically I`m looking for advice on what rights the father has.
Husband and wife, with a mortgage on a property and a 2.5 year old daughter. The wife tells the husband she doesn`t love him any more, and the husband moves out for his own sanity (he still loves the wife, so being in the same house would provoke a lot of arguements, bad feelings etc). The husband is currently staying with a friend and is continuing working at his job, but due to the stress involved has missed a few days and his employer are being a bit funny about it.
The husband has asked the council whether any benefits/help can be claimed as their budget was already stretched very thinly to cover the mortgage and bills, and there simply isn`t enough money to pay the mortgage on the house as well as provide him with somewhere to live long term. There isn`t a lot of equity in the house.
As I understand it there is still some contact between husband and wife, mainly in the area of looking after the childs requirements. The husband is looking after the child on Saturday, and coming up to see the rest of his family.
I`m not looking for advice on how to throw the wife out of the house and get custody of the child, with luck the custody situation won`t arrise and they`ll get back together in time. What I`m looking for is options for the husband to get help towards his living expenses and additional costs involved in running two households. He`s pretty much always been in work and paid tax, so therefore has no idea how to run the system to his advantage. The family will obviously provide what help we can, but with the best will in the world we are all also limited in the amount of money available to us - even the most prudent budget doesn`t allow for supporting a family member at short notice. If they don`t get back together then with luck they`ll still be amicable and able to reach a reasonable solution without having to drag each other through the courts, as that is not in anyones best interests and this is understood by the husband and wife, and family on both sides - nobody is pushing for an outcome that doesn`t look out for the best interests of all parties involved. The husband could of course leave work and live with his family, but we are all over an hours drive from their house, and he doesn`t want to be away from the child for any longer than is absolutely necessary - an hour drive each way will limit his opportunities for contact with the child, which isn`t good for anyone involved.
I`m meeting the husband tomorrow (he`s my brother), to discuss what options he has available. Any information that is needed for better answers can be obtained then and posted for you.
Thanks in advance for your help.