Back in December Julia had a well-paid job with the NHS, a husband and a home. Since then her world has unravelled, leaving her and her two young children without a roof over their heads.
Her marriage had been breaking down for some time and she and her husband had started divorce negotiations in February. Then coronavirus hit Britain, taking away Julia’s ability to earn a living or pay a lawyer to fight for a fair settlement.
“I’m self-employed and work in healthcare,” she said. “When the crisis broke out and all non-urgent procedures got cancelled my work dried up almost overnight.”
With three mouths to feed and no money coming in, Julia has been forced to get rid of her lawyer and attempt to carry on negotiations herself. She had originally been advised that she should be able to stay in her family home until her youngest child finished education, but her husband refused.
‘I will have to accept whatever financial settlement he gives me’
“I can’t afford to buy him out of the house so I’ve had to leave. He’s given me half the value of our home and nothing else,” she said. “That money isn’t enough to buy a new place – particularly as I have no income at the moment – so I’m homeless.”
Luckily Julia and the children have been able to move in with her parents, but she fears she will now never be able to buy her own home. The final financial settlement is yet to be agreed but Julia has been told by her husband she will receive nothing apart from a lump sum equivalent to half the value of their family home.
“My hands have been tied. I don’t really have a leg to stand on so will just have to accept whatever financial settlement he gives me.”
Julia had hoped to apply for the settlement herself to have more say over its terms, but this cost between £500 and £800 – money she did not have.
“His lawyer advised him to take on half the childcare so he doesn’t have to pay me any child maintenance and he has said flat out I won’t get a penny of his pension,” she said. “I had to fight very hard to be allowed half the time with the children: it’s been so draining.”
Julia does not qualify for one of the Government grants to help the self-employed through coronavirus, as she has been working for herself for less than a year. She is now trying to apply for Universal Credit.
Toby Yerburgh of Collyer Bristow, a law firm, said Julia may be able fight for a better settlement based on her lost income, but that doing so would most likely mean a lengthy and expensive court process.