Separation settlement

[TheGrump]

My wife is about to leave with 2 s stepchildren, citing she no longer loves me. I have a large house with approx 80k equity. I have done many improvements to the property to improve it, financing everything myself. The mortgage is in my sole name, all bills have been paid by me in my sole name, and I am worrried she may have a stake in the house.
Mortgage was sole before we met. My wife also has approx 12k of debts due to spending more than she earns, mainly clothes. She has put very little into the house, I pay bills, she buys food. I have also bunged her 13k over the past 2.5 years, although I am by no means well off, and she has greater income. I am due to see solicitor next week, but wonder if anybody could enlighten me on here please?

Thanks

[Pragmatist]

Sorry! - I would suggest you do not wait until next week - see your solicitor immediately -as you are married she has a complete claim no matter how much you have paid and how little she has!!! But some of it will depend on how long you have been together and whether she was there when you puchased - I would say you are in the proverbial and need to damage control as quickly as you can.

[Ethel]

You may find this reassuring:
http://www.armchairadvice.co.uk/relationships/ ending/legal/settlement.asp

As she earns more than you and you have not been together very long, don't worry overmuch. It needs to be dealt with but don't panic.

In the meantime, gather all relevant paperwork together - your wage slips, hers (if you have them), bank statements and so on.

Next week is soon enough.

[innocenti]

Everything you have spent on improving the house and adding value to it will go in your favour. If you spent �10,000 on an extension then you wife will have to pay �5000 for half the cost from her "share" of the equity. You need to get as much evidence together, reciepts, bank statements etc to prove you paid for them.

[TheGrump]

Thank you for your answers floks, I do appreciate it in a very harrowing time.
I am obvoiusly emotionally messed up, as I love the family very much, but it's not returned.
Quite simply I am worried that I will end up not only alone, but in a house with an extended mortgage, to paay off a woman who has put in nowt. Tell a lie, she bought some paint from B&Q 3 years ago.

WRT the receipts for work done, that may prove difficult, as I am a builder and have done most myself.

I am also considering extending the mortgage to pay off a large loan I had from family, in order to lower the equity. Would this be legal?

Thank you once again.