Family Law
A financial settlement should address both the resources available now and how each person will manage after separation. We help you understand the information needed, consider proposals and record an agreement properly, including the home, savings, debts, pensions and possible maintenance.
Understanding your next steps
Good decisions depend on reliable information. We help identify assets, income, liabilities and future needs, and consider whether valuations or pension advice are necessary. An apparently straightforward division of the house may overlook a significant pension or an ongoing mortgage commitment.
We can advise on proposals, support negotiations and discuss mediation where suitable. An agreed settlement normally needs a consent order approved by the court to be binding. If agreement is not possible, we explain the financial remedy process and the evidence it requires.
Spousal maintenance and child maintenance are different. We can discuss whether ongoing support is relevant, how a proposed order operates and what a change in circumstances may mean. A clean break is appropriate in some cases, but cannot be assumed to suit every family.
A clear way forward
Bring recent bank statements, mortgage details, income evidence, pension information, debts, property estimates and a realistic monthly budget.
We consider proposals against your circumstances and identify missing disclosure, valuations or specialist input before you commit.
We help with the agreed negotiations or proceedings and discuss the steps needed to implement an order, such as a transfer or pension arrangement.
Planning ahead
Costs depend on the quality of disclosure, the assets involved and the level of disagreement. Pension experts, valuers, court fees and barristers may add to legal fees. We discuss these cost drivers and the scope of each stage.
An agreed settlement can progress once the information and appropriate divorce stage are available. Missing disclosure, complex assets and contested hearings can extend the timetable. Avoid agreeing a property completion date before the legal and lending position is checked.
Read our published Price Guide, then contact us to confirm the work you need and the costs involved.
View Price GuideUseful to know
A private agreement is not the same as an approved consent order. Legal advice can identify gaps and explain how to make the financial arrangements binding, including whether future claims should be dismissed.
There is no single formula that decides every case. The court considers the circumstances, including resources and needs. Children’s welfare is a first consideration when they are under 18.
No. Child maintenance supports a child and is often dealt with through a separate arrangement or the Child Maintenance Service. Spousal maintenance concerns support for a spouse or former spouse.
Some maintenance orders can be varied when circumstances change. The wording and type of order matter. Get advice before stopping payments or assuming an informal agreement changes the court order.
A mediator can help you discuss a settlement without taking sides. Mediation is not suitable for every situation, including some cases involving domestic abuse. An agreement reached in mediation is not automatically legally binding; a court-approved consent order is normally needed to make the financial settlement binding. We can advise on the proposed terms and the steps needed to record them.
General information for England and Wales. Contact us for advice about your circumstances.
SJS Solicitors · Balham
