We currently own the house free and clear. Getting a HELOC now, in husbands name only, which I will have access to.
Things are stable right now, with promises that they will stay that way, but There have been problems in the past that, if they returned, would result in kids and I vacating home and going far away, and no guarantees of any "civil proceedings" going forth or being civil, iykwim. Before things stabilized, I had a fairly good plan in place, but I hadn't fully thought out returning to work, buying a house in my name with only my credit, etc.
I hope to God that I never need any of these contingency plans, but if I do, the odds of appearing in front of judges, and decrees, and all that is low. Violence begets violence.
If I find myself there, I need to be prepared as best I can to support my kids on my own. Renting for a couple of years isn't the end of the world. That's the conclusion that I keep coming to as I think this over and over. In fact, under the circumstances we would be facing, it would probably be better to have that long to let the dust settle, see if there's any civil action, and decompress a little. I'm a planner, and like to have things all planned out in advance, but I am starting to think that isn't going to be completely possible here.
Ty for the suggestions! Hopefully I won't need any of them!