How Do You Start Over After Divorce At 35?

Starting over after divorce involves a range of key decisions to be made that include one’s financial and housing needs, child maintenance and managing your emotional health. Through this blog post, we aim to discuss in detail how one may be able to start over after divorce at 35 years of age; considering the responsibilities at hand depending on one’s situation. For a well-rounded view of the topic, we will also explore the housing options and financial support one may be able to receive after a divorce.

How Do You Start Over After Divorce At 35?

To start over after divorce at 35 (or any other age for that matter), the best way to move forward is to have a divorce agreement in place which is mutually agreed upon by you and your former partner. This agreement should be prepared by a legal expert and clearly state details of the financial division of investments and savings as well as each partner’s rights and responsibilities in case there are any children.

When it comes to divorce, some individuals may have more issues than others to be resolved; however, some of the common concerns that will require the attention of both parties include the following:

  • Address your emotional health before you take any step towards taking care of your finances and making a decision regarding child maintenance (if applicable). You will find support through the NHS mental health care department which can provide counselling and guidance through medical experts. If someone is in need of urgent care due to their mental health condition, you can call the NHS at 111 or 999 for an emergency.
  • If you have children under the age of 16 years (20 years in case of full-time education)  who will be living with you after the divorce, claim child maintenance for them. This can be done through mutual agreement with your former partner or through Child Maintenance Services.  
  • Consider your housing options if you are going to leave the family home. Although as a married or civil partnership or under joint ownership or joint tenancy agreement, both parties will continue to have the same property rights after a divorce as they did prior to it; it is quite understandable that one of the parties will choose to leave to the family home. 
  • If you are on a low income, retired or have not been in service for some time, you can claim spousal maintenance as per court order. 
  • Should you find yourself in a financial constraint after a divorce, you may consider looking for part-time or volunteer work. During this time, you can check with your local Job Centre if you qualify for state benefits.
  • In the case of owning assets, savings or investments you should discuss with your partner and also seek legal advice on their division. If you choose not to sell any assets at the time of divorce, it would be best to agree upon a will that can decide the future course of action without any dispute by the surviving former partner. 

What Housing Options Are There After Divorce At 35?

The housing options after divorce will depend on your pre-divorce housing situation. For instance, if you and your former partner were homeowners, you can decide to sell the house and divide the amount equally among yourself so that both of you can arrange places to live. The other option is for one of the partners to buy out the other one as they continue to live in the house while the other one moves out. However, if the youngest child is below 18 years of age, the courts in England can issue a “Mesher Order” according to which the house cannot be sold until the youngest child is 18 years old. 

If your home was mortgaged, both of you will remain liable for mortgage payments. In this case, it is best to come to an agreement with your former partner and discuss it with your mortgage lender. If you are claiming benefits, you may be able to get help with mortgage payments. 

If you were living in a rented property where you and your partner were both listed as joint tenants, you can continue living in your matrimonial house if you are faced with financial constraints and you have the risk of domestic abuse. In order to remove you from the tenancy contract, your ex-partner will need an agreement from you and the landlord. However, you should keep in mind that being listed as a joint tenant keeps you responsible for a contribution towards the house rent. 

If you are listed as the tenant and your ex-partner is listed as an occupant they will not be able to remove you from the tenancy agreement. You can simply inform your landlord of the change and ask them to draw up a new tenancy agreement in your name. If your partner is listed as the tenant and you as the occupant, you may have to vacate the premises and look for a place to live. 

If you are on a low income after a divorce, you can search for affordable housing offers by landlords who let out properties on rent for benefits claimants. You can ask your council office for information regarding such offers or look it up on online forums or social media platforms.

Can I Claim Benefits After Divorce At 35?

Yes, you can claim benefits after divorce at 35, if you qualify for them. Below is a list of benefits that single parents can claim depending on their circumstances:

  • If you have savings of less than £16,000, you can claim Housing Benefit whether you live on your own or in a shared property. 
  • If you work for 16 hours or more, you will be entitled to Working Tax Credit. You will be eligible for an additional amount if you are working for 30 hours or more. 
  • If you have sole responsibility for a child under the age of 16 years, you can claim Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit.
  • Parents who work equal to or less than 16 hours per week or are unable to work can claim Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance.
  • If you have a health condition or a disability due to which you cannot work, you can claim Employment and Support Allowance
  • You may qualify for income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. If you receive these benefits for 26 weeks, you can apply for an interest-free loan for basic home expenses.
  • If you are a homeowner claiming Universal Credit, you can apply for Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) to help you with mortgage payments.
  • If you are the sole adult in your household, you can claim a 25 per cent discount on your council tax bills.
  • If both of you were claiming Universal Credit as a couple, both of you will now have to apply on an individual basis. Your UC claim will also depend on the number of children you have.

If you are not sure about the eligibility criteria for claiming state benefits, you can visit the UK government’s website for detailed information.

Conclusion:

The discussion in this article provides a detailed set of guidelines for individuals who divorce at the age of 35. From finding the right housing options based on one’s circumstances to the division of assets and an agreement on child maintenance; there are many key decisions to be made by both parties; ideally under mutual agreement. Where one party resits their responsibilities towards the other, courts will intervene to resolve matters. However, it is essential to maintain one’s emotional health to endure the sensitive aspect of this life-changing event and make important decisions for the future. 

FAQs: How Do You Start Over After Divorce At 35?

How do you reset your life after divorce?

In order to reset your life after divorce, you must take care of your health; both physical and emotional so that you are able to overcome the strain of the event and set new life goals. One should also maintain a clear focus on their future financial status especially if they have been depending on their former partner earlier. Where children are involved, you may need to consider some key joint decisions regarding their upkeep.  

Is life better after divorce?

While some people claim to be financially worse off after a divorce, most of them agree to be emotionally better off after the painful experience of an unhappy relationship that leads to their divorce.

How long does it take to get over a divorce?

Getting over a divorce is a process that takes its own time for different individuals; however, research suggests that most people will get over the emotional and financial impact of divorce after 18 months.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce settlement?

Divorce settlements in the UK aim to each an equal split between both parties which makes that wife’s entitlement 50%. 

Who leaves the house after a divorce?

There is no legal obligation on either party to leave the house in the case of a jointly owned property. However, in the case of sole property, the occupant generally moves out of the premises while the owner stays. 

References: 

Dividing the family home and mortgage during divorce or dissolution | MoneyHelper

Arranging financial support after you separate – Citizens Advice

Divorce Rights – What Are My Rights in a Divorce?

Money and property when you divorce or separate: Getting a financial agreement – GOV.UK

Child Maintenance Service

Financial settlement advice from family lawyers | Winston Solicitors UK

Benefits and help with council tax when you separate – Citizens Advice

Divorce and separation | MoneyHelper

Mental health services – NHS

Protecting your home ownership rights during divorce or dissolution | MoneyHelper

Clean break or spousal maintenance after divorce or dissolution | MoneyHelper