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Divorce Financial Settlements Solicitors

Divorce Financial Settlements

Once you’ve taken the decision to divorce, you will need to reach a formal financial settlement. Negotiating a satisfactory financial settlement can be difficult, stressful, and emotionally challenging. You can also run the risk of not receiving what you are entitled to. We are here to help you handle the division of finances and assets including property and pensions as successfully as possible.

Speak to our team today

What is a Divorce Financial Settlement?

A divorce financial settlement is essentially who gets what after a couple separates and involves decisions about how assets should be divided. The separating couple can be married or civil partners.

If you are not married we can also help with financial settlements during separation.

When there is a decision to separate there will be a need to look at how assets should be shared. There is also the consideration of children in the marriage and what is best for them and their needs.

A financial settlement is a legally binding decision and will cover the specifics of your financials and assets. If you and your ex-spouse or civil partner do not reach an agreement they could try to make a financial claim against you in the future.

What our Divorce Financial Settlement Solicitors Can Help With

Our family law team can help you protect:

  • Rights to property
  • Savings
  • Shares
  • Pensions
  • Any international assets
  • Liabilities for debts
  • Custody of children – along with any maintenance payments, school fees etc.

There are a number of ways our family team can support you through a financial settlement agreement, including:

  • Negotiations
  • Court decision
  • Collaborative law

It is often possible to avoid going to court and to reach a settlement as our divorce solicitors are expert negotiators. We also have a qualified collaborative law team. However, if an amicable resolution is not possible, our solicitors will support you through any court appearances and reach a fair settlement for you.

Who Gets What in a Divorce Settlement?

One of the judge’s primary concerns when looking into who gets what in a divorce settlement will be to ensure the needs of each party are met. If you have children, their needs will always be prioritised. 

A number of factors will be considered when determining how the assets should be divided. This includes how long the parties have been married or in a civil partnership, whether they lived together before they married and how long for as well as, but not limited to, each party’s:

  • Assets
  • Age
  • Earning Capacity
  • Reasonable Living Expenses
  • Disability (if applicable)
  • Liabilities
  • Children

Divorce Financial Settlements FAQs

How is Financial Settlement Calculated in a Divorce?

The court will look at how parties’ assets can be divided in the fairest way, taking into account each party’s needs and those of the children and considering the factors listed above.  The earnings and potential earnings will also be considered.

How Long Does it Take for a Financial Settlement in Divorce?

Typically, a divorce settlement will take between 9 and 12 months.  If an application is made to the court this could be longer, depending on when the application is made

How is Property Divided?

There is no straightforward answer to determining what happens to a shared property after divorce. The judge will consider a range of factors, and the most important one is usually each party’s housing need and their ability to meet it and where the children will reside. The economically weaker party might need a larger share of the assets to meet their need.  Every case will depend on its individual circumstances.

What Should I Ask for in a Divorce Financial Settlement?

It is essential to obtain specialist legal advice from a lawyer who has experience in dealing with financial settlements on divorce and who can guide you through the process, be it providing advice on an agreement you may have reached directly with your spouse already, or full advice confirming what financial settlement you should be looking to achieve.

Divorce & Separation Free Consultation

Our family law team offer a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. We offer flexible appointments that can be arranged around your work schedule.

Divorce Fees

Our Family Law team are transparent with their prices and offer a variety of fixed fees.

Learn More

Advice Guides

A Guide to Divorce & Separation

How to Achieve a ‘Good Divorce’

No Fault Divorce – UK Divorce Law Changes Explained

Do I Need a Solicitor to Deal With My Divorce?

Our Family Law specialists can support with:

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The Family Law team

The Howells Matrimonial team are one of the best in the country and one of the largest in South Yorkshire. It has been consistently highly ranked for family law work in the north, and is overseen by the hugely respected Alyson Siddall.  The team are also Resolution accredited who recognise members that demonstrate excellence in the practice of family law.

Sensitive and compassionate in her client relationships, Alyson Siddall understands that she is not dealing with ‘cases’ but with people, not bound by legal process but in real lives. Furthermore, Alyson has been a key part of Howells Solicitors for over 30 years and offers a wealth of expertise and experience. Alyson and the Matrimonial team are highly ranked in the Legal 500 rankings, with specific feedback on Alyson which is “Alyson Siddall is a very experienced matrimonial lawyer who is personable and approachable in addition to being an excellent solicitor”.

Sharon Lockwood is a highly regarded Family Law and Divorce Solicitor in Rotherham, with a specialism at dealing with complex cases involving children and high value assets. Sharon is very active in the local community of South Yorkshire and receives a high amount of praise from her clients and colleagues and has established herself as one of the most distinguish divorce specialists in the region.

John Clegg is a family specialist and covers all aspects of Matrimonial law including Divorce, civil partnership and cohabitation breakdown, financial matters arising on separation and divorce, pre and post-nuptial agreements and protection from domestic abuse.

Legal 500

The Legal 500 2022 edition ranks Family as a top tier firm in Yorkshire and Humber, saying “Family head Alyson Siddall, matrimonial specialist Sharon Lockwood and children team head Sarah Walker are the key names at Howells Solicitors. Based in Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley respectively, they oversea a team that is particularly well  known for high net worth cases with assets ranging from three to six million pounds.

The firm recently expanded its department with the addition of a collaborative law facility. John Clegg is an additional name to note.”

Alyson Siddall

0114 249 6659
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Caroline Euinton

0114 249 6643
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John Clegg

0114 249 6795
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Liam Gray

0114 249 6605
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Louise Ellis

01709 364 000
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Ramandeep Kaur

0114 249 6703
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Sharon Lockwood

01709 364000
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Wendy Bailey

01226 805 190
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Sarah Parkin

0114 249 6718
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Danielle Mahyar

01226 805 190
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Sophie Pearson

01226 668 803
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Cody Minshall

0114 249 6656
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Colin Musgrave

0114 249 6709
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