Financial Settlement
Getting divorced or dissolving a civil partnership does not automatically deal with any of the financial issues such as transferring properties, money, pensions or incomes. Even if you and your spouse have come to an informal agreement together, getting divorced does not automatically make that agreement binding. Our family lawyers will give you clear, practical and personal advice on what an appropriate financial settlement would be in your circumstances.
We understand that the task of separating the matrimonial assets can be daunting. Our Family Team are all members of Resolution which is committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes, so we will support you throughout the process to come to a resolution you and your ex-partner agree upon.
A financial settlement must be dealt with separately in addition to divorce proceedings as getting divorced does not extinguish married couples’ financial claims against one another. If a financial settlement is not formally put in place, you or your ex-partner could potentially make a financial claim against one another’s assets (including property, savings, capital, business, pensions or income etc.) many years after a divorce or dissolution. Even if you reached an agreement between yourselves, your ex-spouse may be able to change their mind about that agreement in the future if it is not properly formalised. We are able to advise you what your rights are and help you negotiate and formalise a financial settlement.
Once an agreement is reached we can draft a ‘Consent Order’ to formally set out the agreement in legal terms. This is then signed by you and your ex-partner and sent to the Court for a District Judge to approve. If an agreement cannot be reached then either you or your partner can make an application to Court for a ‘Financial Remedy’ to determine how the assets should be split. The majority of our cases do not go to Court, but when they do we are able to offer you practical advice and legal representation.
See the Family Teams useful tips for coping with divorce and financial settlements here.
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What our clients say
I would just like to say that you have, over the past three years on this matter, looked after me exceptionally well. Thank you.
Partner Alisdair Douglas leads the team and has almost 20 years’ experience in family law. He is an advanced member of the Family Law Panel, an accredited Resolution specialist in the areas of advanced financial provision and private children law, and a member of the Good Divorce Group in Norfolk.
Leathes Prior’s team is helpful and professional. Resolution-accredited Alisdair Douglas and rising star Simon Willis excel in divorce, financial remedy and private Children Act matters.
As always excellent, courteous, prompt and professional service.
Excellent service and thorough responses.
One of the best local firms.
They give sound and practical advice on a range of private client matters with some strong lawyers on their books.
The team listens carefully, is very professional and makes clients feel comfortable.
Exemplary service and clear and accurate advice.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all your hard and professionalism throughout the proceedings. I always felt you were looking out for my best interests. It was a pleasure doing business with you and the company and will use you again should I need to and will recommend to others.
My heartfelt thanks go to you for guiding and advising me through the last two and a half years and for achieving a fair financial settlement for me. No mean feat given the complexity of the latter.
Just superb – great service, great communication, no gobbledegook.
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