Financial Arrangements and Pensions

Resolving the financial arrangements

Matters can be resolved by an agreement between you and your former partner. We can assist in ensuring that assets and incomes have been clearly and transparently disclosed and then advise on an appropriate settlement which ultimately will be turned into a formal court order so that you know that your agreement is legally binding.

Or we can provide support through the mediation process. This can include advising on settlement parameters so that you are well equipped to make decisions within the mediation process itself and set out your proposals for settlement. We can also advise upon the appropriateness of any “agreement” reached in mediation.

Alternatively if negotiation is unsuccessful, for any reason, we will guide you and support you through making an application to the court so that ultimately a judge will determine an overall settlement.

A financial order can include provision for property, savings, shares, business interests and increasingly significant these days is pension provision. The order can also include maintenance for a spouse and additional payments for children such as school fees.

With such a broad spectrum of assets and issues to consider it is important that you obtain expert advice to ensure that your needs, particularly housing needs, and the needs of any children, are met. This is not only now but also into the future including upon retirement.

Pensions are often seen as belonging to one individual but within the context of family law they are very much a “joint” asset and one that can be shared to provide each party with independent secure income in retirement.