Divorce and Separation Solicitors

It is also normal for court procedures to be used to resolve a financial settlement. This may be appropriate where maintenance, pensions or transfer of property is at issue for example. In this case, we will provide representation and guidance on resolving any problems.

Monetary assets may also need to be divided because every marriage and divorce is different. There are no hard and fast rules regarding the division of assets in divorce. When dividing assets, the Court and solicitors will take account of various factors when advising their clients. These factors include but are not limited to:

• Income and earning capacity, property, and other financial resources that each spouse has or is likely to have in the foreseeable future.

• Financial needs, obligations, and responsibilities, which each spouse has or is likely to have in the foreseeable future.

• The standard of living enjoyed by the family before the breakdown of the marriage.

• Any physical or mental disability of either spouse.

• The contributions that each spouse has made or is likely to make in the future to the welfare of the family.

• Conduct of each spouse, if that conduct is such that it would be unfair to disregard in the opinion of the Court.

• The value to each spouse of any benefit that one spouse would lose because of the divorce. Where no such agreement can be reached further expert guidance and advice will be sought.

Ancillary relief is the legal term for a financial settlement, it can be negotiated within or without applying to the Court. If the divorcing couple cannot reach an agreement, then the concerned party may request for the court to consider how the matrimonial financial assets will be divided after the divorce through an Ancillary Relief application.

An Ancillary Relief application is an application to the court, concerning the division of finances following the divorce. The Ancillary Relief proceeding will consider both parties’ needs and will therefore divide the matrimonial assets as deemed necessary. Certain factors such as childcare within the divorce often result in one party receiving a higher financial settlement than the other party.

Either party within the marriage can apply for Ancillary Relief by addressing the court.

The process can extend for approximately a year or more, involving typically three hearings: an initial appointment hearing, a financial dispute resolution hearing, and a final hearing. The process would be shortened if contested court proceedings could be avoided or if the matters were resolved as early in the court proceedings as possible through negotiation or other methods of resolution. This would save you both time and money.