There are many reasons why a couple may choose a legal separation as opposed to applying for a divorce or civil partnership dissolution. Whether for religious or cultural reasons, or because a couple have been married or in a civil partnership for less than a year, a legal separation is…
A prenup (more formally referred to as a prenuptial agreement) is a document that couples can sign prior to marriage which clarifies their respective financial rights and obligations. An effective prenup in the UK will make provision for any property, debts, income, and assets that a couple have purchased together,…
Knowing where you stand during separation can be very difficult to comprehend, especially where you share children and/or financial assets. One solution to remedy this confusion would be a separation agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions that govern the separation. This includes the division of assets and any financial…
As with many questions in family law, there is no one, simple answer to the question: what am I entitled to in a divorce settlement? Every case is different because the circumstances of each couple is different. The starting point for dividing assets will normally be a 50/50 split. However,…
We often hear divorcing couples say they want a “clean break”. How many of them, however, really understand what is meant legally by “a clean break”? Having a clean break means that from a date specified in a Court Order, neither party to the marriage will be able to make…
As a family lawyer, I am rarely involved at the start of a relationship when all is going well and people are considering moving in together. Instead, my involvement normally arises at the point the relationship is breaking down or has broken down. This has given me a lot of…
Since April 2022, couples in England and Wales have been able to take advantage of a new ‘no fault’ divorce process, under the terms of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. This represents a significant change to how divorce works in England and Wales, so it is important for…
In this blog we cover what a good divorce looks like and what makes a good divorce lawyer. With the Good Divorce Week campaign organised by Resolution, the UK’s leading network for family lawyers taking place from 28 November to 2 December it’s an ideal time to delve into the…
Ending your marriage is a major event that will have consequences for many areas of your life. Unfortunately, many people are not fully aware of what those consequences may be and it is not uncommon for people to start divorce proceedings without fully understanding all of the ways it may…
This is a question we’re hearing from more and more couples. In some instances, it’s when we tell them they have left it too late to get a prenup before marriage. While you cannot get a prenup after marriage, there is good news. There is an equivalent that can be…
When a couple separates, whether one party is entitled to claim spousal maintenance from the other is a common concern. There are several factors that need to be considered: Length of marriage Whether each party is working The ages of the parties Who is looking after any children of the marriage Can…
Telling children about divorce is never easy, so it is understandable to be worried about this and wonder what the best way to approach the subject is. While each situation is different, there are things you can do to help plan, make the conversation easier and limit any negative impact…