financial settlement

[jelly baby]

My recently divorced friend is in dispute with her ex. Since they married (1976) he has never made any financial contribution to the home, nor has he made any effort financial or otherwise to the upkeep of the property. Throughout their married life she paid all bills etc, she even paid his poll tax when he refused point blank, as she works in this office and would have been embarrassed if he was prosecuted for non-payment. He spent 4 years in prison for blackmail and on his release (which she was not made aware of) came back and continued to live there as before. She repeatedly asked him to leave but he always refused. She then found out he was having an affair with their neighbour and so threw him out. Since he left she has made considerable improvements to the property which she paid for herself. He owns a successful (as far as she is aware) car spares business and an empty property which is under a compulsory purchase order. He claims he has 'lost' the title deeds to the marital home. He was also left a considerable amount of money on the death of his parents.
What she would like to know is:
a) How can she get copies of title deeds or proof of ownership of the home?
b) Will he benefit from any of the work she has paid for if the house is sold ?
and c) Will she be entitled to any share of his other property and business?
She would be happy just to have the house and not have any claim on the business but thinks he will continue to be abusive and awkward as regards sharing assets. Any help would be appreciated.

[Ethel]

a) She can download a copy of the Registered Title here for a fee of �3:
http://www1.landregistry.gov.uk/

That will show who is the registered owner.

b) If he is named on the Registered Title he will have a better claim, so probably

c) Maybe

[jelly baby]

She has tried this, and as they bought the house before it was compulsory to register, there is no record

[bednobs]

i don't understand why this wasn't sorted out in the divorce - although i have never been divorced myself, i thought that all financia and asset division was dne during a divorce?

[Ethel]

If there is a mortgage the mortgage company will have the deeds

[jelly baby]

There is no mortgage on the property, ex had all papers 'in safe keeping' for years. He has always been very secretive about things, she was receiving letters addressed jointly to him and his late father for several years from a bank (until notifying the bank of his new address) and thinks this was so his brother would not get anything from this account when his dad died.
Financial settlements often go on long after a divorce.