Divorce, separation and finance

The actual process of becoming legally divorced is, in most cases, relatively straightforward. It is typically the issues of dividing assets, sorting children arrangements, future financial support, living arrangements and other related issues that are difficult, stressful, and time-consuming.

We have worked with people from a variety of backgrounds and professions, all of whom have a unique list of concerns and want support with specific issues in relation to their individual circumstances. In all cases we have been able to give them sensitive and practical advice, helping them make informed decisions and representing them when they are ready to proceed.

We are one of the few firms that has dedicated, specialist expertise advising people with more complicated and complex situations. As part of this we regularly advise a range of high net worth clients, including farmers and landowners, entrepreneurs and business owners, and armed forces personnel to protect their wealth during divorce and separation.

In particular we have a repuptation for:

• Farming divorces and acting for those with landed estates, where we work closely with our specialist agriculture and private client teams on issues such as the division of estates and business assets.
• Divorces with an international element, where we have extensive experience of dealing with both child and financial aspects of cross-border separations on an international basis, advising on cases in countries as diverse as China, Bulgaria, Panama and Bermuda amongst others.
• Working with high net worth entrepreneurs and business owners to protect business, property, investments and pension assets.
• Advising armed forces personnel, using our experience of working with officers in the army and RAF, as well members of the Special Forces and security services. We have specialist knowledge of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, Forces Help to Buy Scheme and Early Departure Payments, all of which can add a degree of complexity that other firms cannot navigate through.

Our family lawyers are also supported by colleagues from other teams to can provide complementary advice and support on dealing with other legal issues such as wills, trusts, inheritance tax and property as well as corporate advice for business owners. You can rest assured that we will have your best interests at heart, from start to finish, in a way that gives you comfort and control over every aspect of divorce and separation, as well as what comes after.

We recently advised:

• A family business owner during complex High Court proceedings, advising on how to protect their £30m business and substantial other assets in the UK and overseas.
• A wife in a complicated farming divorce valued at £2.5m, which included issues surrounding third party intervenors, enforcement and civil proceedings relating to a partnership dispute.
• A husband whose former wife was attempting to renege on the terms of a settlement before the court approved the consent order, successfully obtaining an order that upheld the pre-established agreement.
• The owner of a family accountancy practice, successfully negotiating a financial settlement to protect various pre-marital and family assets.
• A wife who was pursuing a claim against a property portfolio and complex structure of business assets that were held in the husband’s sole name, including an application for a legal services order and complicated by issues relating to the husband’s capacity.