Financial Settlement Solicitors

Financial Settlements

Divorce is a complex process that can have a significant impact on your finances. It’s important to start planning for your financial future early on. Our divorce financial settlement solicitors are here to help you divide your finances and assets fairly so that you can move forward.

Financial settlements are legally binding once approved by the court, setting out what your finances will look like after your divorce. They can consider various different elements of your finances, depending on your personal situation. For example, a financial settlement could cover:

• Rights to property, including who owns a property and how much each spouse is entitled to upon sale
• The division of savings, shares, and pensions
• International assets
• Who is liable for debts 
• Who is financially responsible for children, including maintenance payments 

When trying to reach a financial settlement, it’s important to have a divorce financial settlement solicitor by your side. Our solicitors will consider your personal circumstances to help you reach the outcome that works best for you and your family.

Several aspects will be taken into account when reaching a divorce financial settlement, including:

• Whether you have any children, and the ages and needs of those children
• Your current finances and assets 
• Your current and future needs 
• Whether your financial situation is likely to change in the future 
• How much you earn and your future earning potential
• Your age and health
• How long you have been married for 

Spousal Maintenance

Spousal maintenance is a financial arrangement in which one spouse pays the other after a divorce. It is separate from child maintenance. The amount is determined by both parties’ financial circumstances.

You can start receiving interim spousal maintenance during the divorce process. The final agreement is typically part of the overall financial settlement.

Our expert divorce solicitors can guide you through this complex process. Whether you reach a settlement independently, through mediation, or through the courts, we’ll provide the support you need.

Child Maintenance

When going through a divorce, your primary concern will be for your children. 

Child maintenance is paid from one spouse to the other, who the child primarily lives with, to provide for the child’s daily living expenses. 

The amount of child maintenance paid will depend on a range of factors, including the financial situation of both parents, the child’s needs, and who the child lives with most of the time. 

Our solicitors are here to guide you through the entire process, ensuring the best interests of your child are always put first.  

Child maintenance is separate from the divorce financial settlement. Typically, parents can come to an agreement with each other independently or through mediation. If you can’t reach a decision, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) can arrange it for you.

Child Arrangements

Child Arrangements

Financial Disputes

Divorce is a stressful time, so it’s not uncommon for couples to encounter disagreements when it comes to finances.

There are several options to help you amicably solve financial disputes before they reach court, including mediation and arbitration.

However, if you do require the court’s intervention to resolve a dispute, our solicitors are here to help, representing you in court and assisting you in getting the best possible outcome for you and your family.

Many of our divorce financial settlement solicitors are also trained family mediators, helping you to reach a decision without the added time and expense of court. You can find out more about our family mediation services by clicking here. 

Freezing Orders

Freezing orders in divorce are used to temporarily stop one spouse from disposing of any assets until the case has concluded. They can be useful to ensure that the other spouse does not miss out on any matrimonial assets that they may be entitled to. 

These orders can provide additional peace of mind in complex divorce cases, and can cover assets both in the UK and overseas. 

You’ll need to act fast to prove to the court that your assets are at risk. Our solicitors are here to help you – please get in touch today. 

Financial Disputes Between Unmarried Couples

Our financial dispute solicitors don’t just work with divorcing couples. We understand that separating unmarried couples also commonly have intertwined finances, jointly owned property, and children to consider.  

We can help separating couples untangle their finances and reach a decision together. 

Bear in mind that unmarried couples do not have the right to claim assets, finances, or maintenance from each other, no matter how long they may have lived together. 

Because of this, financial matters when separating, particularly for couples without children, typically focus on assets being divided based on legal ownership. 

Things can get complicated when one party has made contributions that don’t reflect their legal ownership. For example, they may have paid for all home maintenance costs, or contributed a higher percentage of the mortgage costs compared to the percentage they own.

When there are children involved, one parent can make an application under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 for provision for the children.

Financial disputes between unmarried couples can be hugely complex, and require the knowledge of a lawyer who’s an expert in this area. Please get in touch to learn more about how we can help you.