Calogero Ricotta, 64, killed his wife Maria Nugara, 54 and his 29-year-old stepson Giuseppe Morreale at the family home in Ugley, Essex, in May last year.
The judge, Mrs Justice Dame Mary Stacey, said Ricotta "used controlling and coercive behaviour" against his spouse and "tried to intimidate Maria into staying in a loveless marriage" before he "slaughtered" her and her son.
Maria - also known as Maria Nugara - “had been to see the solicitor about being divorced”, Ricotta's trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard.
A pathologist's report revealed Mrs Nugara - known as Maria Ricotta in the court proceedings - suffered 14 stab wounds and 44 further cuts, including to her neck.
Det Insp Lydia George said: “[Ricotta] was calculating, controlling and violent and said to Maria ‘dead or alive, you will never leave this marriage’.
