Financial Lawyers
The resolution of financial issues on the breakdown of a relationship or marriage can be complex and stressful. Having a top divorce solicitor on your side can make a real difference in the outcome of your case.
McAlister Family Law is home to some of the country’s leading divorce and finance lawyers.
We can help you whether you are seeking to protect your wealth, uncover hidden assets, or simply wish to formalise a settlement negotiated directly with your spouse or partner.
We Can Help With Out of Court Settlements and Negotiations
Although deciding who gets what following a separation or divorce can be contentious, not all cases need to be concluded in court.
Our team has significant experience and skill in negotiating favourable settlements outside the courtroom, whether that be through telephone contact, correspondence, or around the table. On occasions, our clients are keen to negotiate directly with their spouses and use us as a “sounding board” to ensure that the agreement being considered is fair and reasonable.
In addition to being able to provide you with specialist knowledge and expertise in the strategy and conduct of negotiations, we can also offer you alternatives. These include effective mediation and arbitration services.
Divorce and Going to Court Can Be Stressful. But Not with Us
There will be cases when going to court to secure input from a judge is inevitable. The team at McAlister Family Law is highly experienced in attending court and putting together strategies to ensure the best possible result is obtained for our clients.
Financial settlements ordered by the court after a divorce (whether by agreement between the couple or after a contested court hearing) usually take one of two forms:
- Capital provision (which can include payment for housing) together with ongoing maintenance, which can be for a fixed number of years.
- A “clean break” order where one capital payment (perhaps by instalments) is made, completely ending the financial relationship between a couple.
Understanding Court Orders and What Is Considered
The court has the power to make financial awards (known as financial remedy orders) using a wide variety of mechanisms including:
- The transfer of property, shares, or other assets
- The payment of cash sums
- The sharing of a pension
This is a discretionary area of the law so there are no fixed percentages or solutions, which is where you need an expert divorce lawyer on your side.
To determine the appropriate financial settlement for you, the court will follow certain specific criteria laid down by statute (section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973) and will consider:
- The length of your marriage
- Your age and state of health
- Your family’s standard of living
- Income, earning capacity, property, and financial resources now and in the foreseeable future, both in the UK and overseas
- The financial needs, obligations, and responsibilities of both parties
- Contributions made to the family or contributions that will be made in the future – this includes both financial contributions and contributions in other ways, for example, caring for children
- The value of benefits that would be lost on divorce – this includes potential future losses and compensation
The McAlister Family Law divorce and finance team will advise you on the range of outcomes that a court might consider appropriate for you and your family and the different ways we can assist you in reaching a financial settlement when you are going through a divorce.
Reach out to Our Specialist Finance Team Today
Family law matters can bring financial uncertainties, which can be very overwhelming. Our team of finance lawyers have extensive experience in financial matters, to help guide you along the way with confidence.
To chat with our team, call us on 0333 202 6433 or email us at hello@mcalisterfamilylaw.co.uk.
