I'm posting a question in regard to my mother and father and need some clarification.
My father walked out on my mother 23 years ago but has still remained married to her all this time with no property settlement as of yet! (Crazy I know). She has maintained the "marital" home all this time, paying all the council rates, etc., from her personal funds. My mother has been alone all since then still mending her broken heart.
My father has since moved on and has been in a de facto relationship for 20 or so years with a woman 20 years younger and has acquired a home with this woman. This we know of due to a bit of investigative work (the house is not in his name though), but he doesn't know that we know as he will refuse to communicate any of his new life to me or my mother. I also am 95% sure that he has a child under 13, another thing he refuses to communicate to us about.
As my father is nearing retirement, I feel that he will want to get his "half" so to speak and was wondering what my mother should be doing now in preparation to when that happens. Her working days are pretty much gone at the age of 71 and she feels helpless as what to do in regard to the future.
Hope I am posting in the right section.
Thanks in advance.
My father walked out on my mother 23 years ago but has still remained married to her all this time with no property settlement as of yet! (Crazy I know). She has maintained the "marital" home all this time, paying all the council rates, etc., from her personal funds. My mother has been alone all since then still mending her broken heart.
My father has since moved on and has been in a de facto relationship for 20 or so years with a woman 20 years younger and has acquired a home with this woman. This we know of due to a bit of investigative work (the house is not in his name though), but he doesn't know that we know as he will refuse to communicate any of his new life to me or my mother. I also am 95% sure that he has a child under 13, another thing he refuses to communicate to us about.
As my father is nearing retirement, I feel that he will want to get his "half" so to speak and was wondering what my mother should be doing now in preparation to when that happens. Her working days are pretty much gone at the age of 71 and she feels helpless as what to do in regard to the future.
Hope I am posting in the right section.
Thanks in advance.