she told me at the time--her then bloke was a solicitor--and she had talked it over with him. highly unlikely--she was an habitual liar--lived in a fantasy world.
I suppose it also depends on the person, some just want a clean break with a pronto settlement, others will hang around wanting the last shilling. I suspect you were happy with the settlement but as I say a will can easily be contested by a close deserving relative.
They let you buy a Condo. You cannot own property here unless your wife dies and you inherit it from her. It's shame the banks don't accept suitcases full of cash anymore isn't it! As other's have said - don't put it in the Philippines - don't even let anyone (including people in the local banks) know that you have that sort of cash lying around. I really don't think people coming from the UK understand the lengths the Filipino will go to get their hands on your cash... murder is quite cheap and common here.
I was married to my wife for 28 years. Yes my wife left a will which she left everything to me, but if I predeceased her it would be divided into 3 and left to her daughter and 2 grandchildren. She is contesting the will under section 3 of the family and dependants act 1975, claiming limited means (she's on benefits and has substantial debts) And that her mother helped her financially from time to time. But she does have a modest house with an outstanding mortgage of 8K. She is the most grasping rapacious person I have ever met, she's told the solicitor that I get 3 pensions which I do, and that I own my own house which I also do, she has told them that my house is worth double what it is actually worth. She resents my wife and her family , she has told me I should have married a British woman. My Phillipine family are far nicer to me than she has ever been. I don't have any family or relations in the UK any more. The 10,000 was used to get my wife an annulment and a marriage visa and FLR and you all know the cost of that. She like me is getting on and doesn't work, so I pay for everything. She can't kick us out of the house but when I die my wife will go back to the Philippines with only ½ the money. I won't be able to sell it or move because I will only have half the house money, not enough for a decent house. I really resent what she has done, and I won't under any circumstances give her any money. I would rather burn the house down. Going to Phil is the best way out, I have 5 decent step daughters, my wife is well connected in her home town, and has lots of relatives in positions of power, the usual Phillipine arrangements. The money will go into my wife's bank, and I know you will say thats a bad move but I trust my wife. we will rent or buy a small house whilst the house is being built. I can live in Phil quite happily.
We are on this earth for such a short time Rob, enjoy it and the very best to you and your wife. Good luck.
EXCUSE ME??? Mate.I know you trust your wife but why do you have to put 300K in there to prove it? Do you realize just how little to NO rights we foreigners have over here IF things go pear shaped? (God forbid) Dont do it man.. No need. Open a Swiss or off shore bank account in your name,open an account here in your wife`s name and have it sent over in small bits as needed. She wont love you any less.I promise! Also.God forbid, (again) she died before you a all that money is in her account,it ALL goes into probate PLUS it will ALL be subject to 20% estate tax. As foreigners here,we are not always priority when it comes too inheritance priority rights. In other words someone else might get it. Think..Then think again.
so--whats the point in having a will if this can happen ? i dont have a will at present. my last will became null and void when i re-married last year. i did ask my solicitor--i had just got married and was due in hospital for an operation...and wanted to know what would happen if i never woke up. he said by law my wife would be entitled to the first £250 k--so that was far more than i had at the time.
The point is that you are sharing your estate as you see fit. Just dont cut someone out who in the eyes of the law is entitled to it. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2007/apr/29/observercashsection.theobserver?CMP=share_btn_link
From the story he tells,he should sell HIS house ASAP and put HIS money into an account beyond British or EU. jurisdiction before the gannets and cockroaches find out the score. IMO.
I wish you good luck in your new life in the Philippines RobH , you are a braver and far more trusting man than me . After a costly and unexpected divorce years ago , I could never relinquish control of my money to anyone else . I think in your circumstances I would need to open an account there in my name , as well as one in my wife's name , and keep enough in my as a safeguard, in case the unthinkable happens . I have read of so many stories , where foreigners lose their money , but good luck with whatever you decide .
If you dump 20 million pesos into your wifes bank account you will destroy the whole relationship, however much you might trust her.
Looked at the HSBC premier account. you'll need to fund your account(s) and/or investments (your Relationship Balance) with the minimum balance of £60,000 or currency equivalent within three months of the opening date, and then maintain this minimum balance. Not going to leave £60k in the bank. Apparently the solicitor who will do the conveyencing can send the money to Phil this no problem, just need to sort out the cost.
I seem to have lost the post I made in answer to an earlier question. it may have been me I am old. She is using Inheritance ( family and dependants ) Act 1975 Both me and my late wife left our estates to each other, if I died first then my wife will would have left 1/3 to her daughter and the other 2/3 to her 2 grand children. She is saying that my late wife didn't know what she was doing, my wife was completely with it and very bright (2 degrees) not loosing it. She is also saying that my wife supported her financially, which she did but in a very small way £50-100 every couple of months when she could afford it. She has told the lawyer that my house is worth £500K in fact its worth half that, thats what has attracted the sharks. they get 30%. If she gets half the house when I die or want to move I can't afford move and my wife and Phil family will not get what I want them to have. They are very kind to me, I don't have any family left in the UK, they are all I've got now. She is on benefits having given up her job as a cleaner, And looking after her baby grandson. The mother is unfit and had all her kids taken into care. Her choice. I really resent giving her any money she is an idle feckless bitch. I would burn the house down if it was not a semi, and the people next door are nice.
just do what i did with my ex wife---offer her a quick cash settlement right now--or she can go to hell and fight it out in court. could tie it up for years.
Or I could go to Phil with all the money. I wouldn't be so nasty if she had told me she wanted money, she just went to the no-win no fee scum. Now she has lost it all.
Have you considered a Phils retirement visa (which I believe requires quite a large sum to be kept on deposit, but gives you a much better status there) ? . http://www.philembassy.no/consular-services/visa/special-resident-retirees-visa-srrv