Hi there

I am in need of some advice. 

My spouse and I have been married since 2016, but together since 2012.

He recently decided that he doesn't want to go back to work because it's too stressful for him. We had conversations where I begged him to talk to me and tell me what is going on, but he never gave up anything. He then suddenly up and left to go stay by his father for a few days after claiming to have been on leave from work for roughly 4 weeks. 

He left our rental property while I was at work and refused to take my calls.

Today he claims he will be coming home but after all the lying and physical abuse, I am honestly at my wits end and want a divorce. There is nothing in this marriage worth saving anymore.

During our marriage, we managed to rack up significant debt, all on my name. Loans and Credit Cards mostly. He knows full well that without his income, on my salary alone, I can not afford to make all the debt payments, rental payment and support even myself for the coming month, let alone support both myself and him.

I am 100% sure that when I tell him that I can't continue this way and that he has left me in financial dire straights leading to me wanting a divorce, he will get physically violent and refuse to leave.

What can I do? I have seen that I can't simply change the locks and deny him access to the property but there must be something I can do without first getting beaten up?

Side note, in the past when he has been physically abusive, I never reported it. I clearly wasn't the smartest there.

Any advice you could provide will be greatly appreciated.

Candice