For the first few years of her marriage Barbara McGlory, 62, was the sole breadwinner, teaching hairdressing at night school in Liverpool while her husband studied computing.
Over the years Barbara, now living in Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, cut back her working hours to look after their three children and he became the higher earner. The couple split in 1997 and during the divorce Barbara had help from Legal Aid to separate their finances. Her husband had his own solicitor and under the terms of the settlement Barbara was given monthly child support, but no share in the family home or her husband’s two pensions. She and the children moved out.
Now, as she approaches retirement, Barbara is realising the financial cost of not fighting