The Family Home
For many couples, the family home is their most significant asset.
Common questions include:
- Does the home need to be sold?
- Can one spouse remain in the property?
- Can ownership be transferred?
- Who will continue paying the mortgage?
- What if the home is registered in one person’s name?
- How will children’s housing needs be considered?
There is no automatic solution that applies to every divorce.
Possible arrangements may include selling the property, transferring ownership, refinancing or considering its value alongside pensions, savings and other assets.
Our Doncaster divorce solicitors can advise on the family home within your wider financial settlement.
Savings and Investments
Financial assets can include:
- Bank savings
- ISAs
- Shares
- Investment funds
- Bonds
- Managed portfolios
- Employee share schemes
- Other investments
Full and accurate financial disclosure can help establish the overall asset position.
Pensions
Pensions can represent a substantial part of family wealth, particularly following a longer marriage.
They should not be overlooked simply because the benefits may not be immediately accessible.
Relevant arrangements can include:
- Workplace pensions
- Personal pensions
- Defined benefit schemes
- Defined contribution pensions
- Executive pensions
- Other retirement benefits
Complex pension arrangements may require specialist pension or actuarial advice.
Business Assets
A divorce may become more complicated where one or both spouses own or have an interest in a business.
Relevant matters can include:
- Limited companies
- Partnerships
- Family businesses
- Company shares
- Commercial premises
- Director remuneration
- Dividends
- Retained profits
- Business valuations
Where business value is significant or disputed, independent valuation evidence may sometimes be required.
Our solicitors can advise on how business interests fit into the wider financial settlement.
Spousal Maintenance
Some divorces involve questions about whether one former spouse should provide ongoing financial support to the other.
The relevance of spousal maintenance depends on the individual circumstances, including income, needs, earning capacity and the wider financial position.
Our solicitors can explain how maintenance may fit into your overall settlement.
Consent Orders
An informal financial agreement does not provide the same certainty as a court-approved order.
Where you and your former spouse reach agreement, a consent order can formally record the terms.
It may deal with:
- Property
- Pensions
- Savings
- Investments
- Maintenance
- Other financial arrangements
Formalising an agreement can provide greater clarity about each person’s financial position after divorce.