In brief When a marriage breaks down, household bills still need to be paid. As a general rule, both spouses remain responsible for the financial commitments they had during the marriage, including the mortgage, utility bills, and council tax, until a formal financial settlement is made by the court. A…
In brief There is no fixed formula for what you will receive in a divorce settlement. The court’s starting point is a broadly equal division of matrimonial assets, but the final outcome depends on the specific circumstances of your marriage. Under Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the…
If you have been separated from your spouse for several years, you may be wondering whether the length of time apart affects your financial rights. The short answer is no, under current English and Welsh law, the court does not base financial settlements on how long you have been separated. Before…
Over the past decade, amicable divorce has increasingly become the preferred way for separating couples to resolve matters. The concept is attractive: cooperative, cost-effective, and forward-looking. In many cases, an amicable divorce or mediated settlement works extremely well and helps families avoid unnecessary conflict and court proceedings. However, practitioners are increasingly seeing disputes emerge…
Your ex-spouse can potentially claim a share of your pension even decades after your divorce. There is no automatic time limit on pension claims unless a legally binding financial settlement, such as a consent order, is made during the divorce to formally end all financial ties, including pension rights. To protect yourself from…
If you are going through a separation or divorce, it’s completely understandable to feel unsure about your rights, especially when it comes to your home. Many people fear losing the family home or being pressured to leave, even when they have lived there for years. If your spouse has said…
Financial infidelity happens when one partner hides, lies about, or secretly controls money within a relationship. It could be as simple as keeping a secret bank account, or as serious as hiding assets during divorce proceedings. In today’s world, where digital banking makes managing money easier than ever, financial infidelity…
Mediation in a divorce can take as little as a few hours but varies from case to case. How long mediation takes varies and depends on several factors. Some people can come to an agreement after just one mediation session. For others, it may take longer. This blog will answer…
Getting started with mediation is a straightforward process. You can begin mediation at any time in the divorce, including before submitting your application, while your application is being processed by the court, during the 20-week reflection period, or even after your divorce has been finalised to help address any ongoing…
Mediation is a method of dispute resolution sometimes used during the divorce process. Mediators focus on resolving family disagreements and can help provide a means of communication between you and your spouse. A mediator can help you to reach an agreement about issues such as childcare and the division of…
One of the most frequently asked questions during divorce proceedings in the UK is, “Who pays for the divorce?” As of April 2025, the standard divorce application fee is £628, and it is typically paid by the person who initiates the divorce, known as the applicant. However, if you’re filing…
A divorce not only involves the dissolution of a marriage; there is also the question of how assets such as property will be divided. Who will get the house if you divorce? How will the proceeds from selling the house be divided? How does the court decide how a house…
