Mother worried about being locked out of the house pre-divorce. What can she do legally to safeguard herself (England)?
Background:
My mum and step-father are probably going to be getting divorced after almost 20 years together. My step-father left the house after some arguing and my mother forcing him get his depression and worsening aspergers (?) symptoms dealt with by a doctor. He was vehemently against this (denies anything is wrong) and it added fuel to the fire. He came back and mum asked him to stay at my sister’s (same village) for a night rather than coming back straight away as she was still feeling hurt by what he had said to her. He took offense to this and has asked for a divorce.
According to my mum, he is being nasty about it. He wants the house they just finished building, controls all the security cameras and finger-print locks, and wants mum to leave. They have two kids together who are in high school and he has not said if he wants them to leave too. Almost all their accounts are joint and mum downscaled her work because my step-dad has a good job, so she doesn’t have a lot to fall back on, and is not likely to get a mortgage due to not having regular work. They do have some joint assets (some flats they rent out in Scotland) but they will not sell quickly.
Question:
My mother has to leave the house for a few days to help her aging parents in another county with hospital visits. This is unavoidable. I have advised my mum to take anything she couldn’t live without (important documents, some clothes, any valuables and cards, etc.) and put them with a trusted friend while she is away. Is there anything else she should take with her? And is there anything she should be doing to safeguard herself?
I apologize if this is all over the place. I only found out yesterday and I’m not in the country anymore so this is the only way I can help.