Michelmores Family Law Service

Financial Issues on divorce or separation for married couples

How finances are to be divided in a Divorce or on the breakdown of a marriage is one of the primary concerns of clients who come to visit us.

Financial matters vary greatly from one case to another and although they arise from divorce, they are in fact a separate issue to be resolved and are not resolved or extinguished by obtaining a divorce.

The family team at Michelmores can advise you on all aspects of your case including the effect of divorce on your home, business, trusts, complicated pensions, child maintenance and/or school fee disputes. Whatever your financial issues we will take a practical approach to solving your problems with experienced expert advice.

Good Family Law solicitors, like the family team at Michelmores will avoid contested financial proceedings when it is right to do so and as such we will negotiate on your behalf to try to achieve the best possible outcome for you.

If an agreement is reached in this way, we will draft this into an Order and will forward this to the court. If a settlement cannot be reached, or your spouse refuses to provide the necessary financial information, called 'disclosure', to enable negotiations to take place we will discuss the option of commencing proceedings on your behalf.

Commencing proceedings for financial matters to be resolved by the court is known as Ancillary Relief proceedings, whereby on receipt of your application the court will fix a timetable. The timetable includes provision for certain documents to be filed, for negotiations to take place and as a last resort, where an agreement is impossible - a final formal hearing where the court will allocate your finances as it considers fair.

For children issues on divorce please see our separate dedicated pages.