Finances

When starting a divorce, a client will want to know the financial consequences of a divorce and an understanding of the financial future, post-divorce.   I give early advice on likely settlement options at our first meeting, using the estimate of the family assets I request from the client before that meeting. However, when we…

The consent order process is the most important part of your divorce negotiations.   It is essential that you understand how this process fits within the divorce timeline, and why you also need a consent order when you have a financial agreement. When you marry, financial rights are established in law. These rights will not be…

Most people getting divorce fall within the category of “needs” cases. This means that assets are divided unequally (and not 50/50) to ensure that the basic financial needs of the parties are met when they exit the marriage.  Myths There is a great deal of misunderstanding about how finances are dealt with on divorce.  Two…

Divorce settlements often involve disputes over finances, property, and child arrangements. But what happens when the disagreement is about a beloved family dog? A recent case FI v DO highlights how courts approach pet ownership. The Background In this case, a couple who had been married for 12 years separated in 2022. Among their many…

We discuss the treatment of debts in a financial order – before marriage, during marriage and after separation. When deciding how the assets of a marriage are to be shared, we also have to look at how the debts are going to paid. Debts may be brought to a marriage.  If you start a marriage…

Pension sharing orders are a type of financial order that can be made in the event of a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership in England and Wales. The purpose of a pension sharing order is to divide the pension assets of one spouse or civil partner between the two parties in a fair…

An Order for Sale is a Court judgment ordering the sale of a property. Increasingly, our clients are finding that their properties are difficult to sell in the current housing market. According to an article from the BBC this week, “UK house prices saw the biggest monthly fall for nearly eight years during April ……

There are five facts you can use to obtain a divorce in England & Wales. The question of who pays for the costs of the divorce will normally be determined by the fact which is proven in the divorce. The five facts are adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, 2 years separation (with consent) and 5 years…

When you marry someone, the financial rules between you change.  There is a set of laws, put into place by parliament, which set out what should happen to your assets if your marriage ends.  It is not the case that you can take back what you put in.  These laws set out that a court…