If you and your partner are separating, deciding how you will share your assets to live independently is likely to be a concern.
The more you can agree between you, the less you will pay in legal fees and the more there will be for your own benefit. Understanding what assets and liabilities there are and what you will need is the starting point, and dialogue is key.
Financial claims
For children
If you have children with your partner, whether or not you are married, there may be the possibility of seeking financial support under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. This can be used to pursue provision of assets, continuing financial support or top-up child maintenance where the paying parent is wealthy. Talk to us to learn more.
dissolution / divorce
Income, capital, property & pension
Divorce or dissolution itself does not prevent the potential occurrence of financial claims after divorce. A court approved financial Order is crucial in recording how assets are to be divided and to avoid future financial claims. Our experienced team will advise you on how best to safeguard income, capital, property or pension following separation, whether the asset base is modest or large.
international assets and High Court applications
Divorcing abroad
If you have assets abroad, or if you have divorced abroad but have yet to resolve disputes over assets in England and Wales, we can help you settle financial matters through agreement or court action. In these cases, it is crucial that you obtain a financial Order relating to both England and Wales and other jurisdictions. We have extensive experience representing clients who have divorced in Ukraine, Mexico, the United States and European countries, as well as acting for clients with assets abroad.
Financial claims
For unmarried couples
If you and your partner are not married, your financial claims will be more limited. For unmarried couples, there are no claims against pensions or income, save for child maintenance. Financial claims between you will be limited to equity in property and any joint investments, savings or other joint assets. Our team is experienced in working with unmarried couples to resolve financial claims through continued dialogue, and court action where necessary.
Working together
To avoid court
Avoiding court is often in the best interests of a couple involved in any financial dispute. Our team can provide you with the tools you need to resolve disputes through our innovative Talking Works programme, which encourages constructive discussion to reach an agreement. Talking Works offers a process that is quicker, cheaper and less stressful than court or lengthy solicitors’ negotiation. Talking Works also enables you to work together to find creative solutions to financial issues.
for finance claims
Court action
In cases where court action is unavoidable, our family lawyers have years of experience in complex financial litigation and can build a team around you, which offers expert support to help safeguard your interests.
Key contacts
Excellent client service
Whether you have limited assets or assets totalling multi-millions, Prettys’ family team prides itself on taking a personable approach and providing an excellent client service to every individual regardless of circumstances.
Where necessary, we enlist the expertise of our Private Client and Commercial teams in providing legal advice that is robust, realistic, thoughtful and bespoke. Our firm also works closely with other professionals such as accountants, independent financial advisors (IFAs), tax experts and chartered surveyors, drawing them from our Talking Works Professionals Hub to build a team who work on reaching the best possible resolution.
Your peace of mind is our key objective, which is why we aim to ensure you always have access to the legal assistance you need.
To find out how our dedicated family team can help you, contact us on 01473 232121, complete our contact form or send an email to familylaw@prettys.co.uk.
Please note we do not offer legal aid but are always happy to talk over your case and fees.
