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Divorce financial settlements FAQs

What is a divorce financial settlement?

A divorce financial settlement is a legally binding arrangement that sets out how you and your ex-partner will divide your assets when your marriage ends. It can include:

Why should I reach a financial settlement with my ex-partner?

No matter how amicable your split, it’s vital to have a legally binding financial settlement when you’re separating from your partner.

In England and Wales, even after you’re divorced, you can still make financial claims against your ex and vice versa, and there’s no time limit on this unless there is an order stating that any settlement approved by the court is ‘full and final’ or ‘a clean break’.

This is why it’s crucial to have a consent order with exact details of your financial arrangements with your ex-partner.

When should I get a financial settlement?

You can agree a financial settlement any time during the divorce proceedings – either before or after the divorce is finalised – however it is usually best to reach an agreement on your finances before you finalise your divorce. That agreement in then submitted to the court to approve as ‘a Consent Order’ assuming the court deem the agreement to be fair.

Your relationship, good or bad, with your ex-partner will affect how long it takes to reach a financial agreement, and it will also depend on how complex your financial affairs are. In most cases, you should be able to reach a financial settlement within the same timeframe as the divorce proceedings, but arguments can delay or extend the time it takes to divorce.

Could the reason for our divorce affect a financial settlement?

Rarely. The guiding principle is that any financial settlement should be fair and give priority to the welfare and needs of any children.

However, if you are divorcing because of extreme behaviour such as domestic violence, or if one of you has been trying to sabotage the financial settlement by reckless spending, or by hiding or destroying assets, the court may take this into consideration. If you believe your partner’s behaviour meets any of these criteria, tell your solicitor at once.

What am I entitled to in a divorce settlement?

Every marriage and divorce is different. There are no hard-and-fast rules about dividing assets on divorce.

If you want an idea of what you might be entitled to, it’s best to seek advice from an experienced family lawyer. They will look at your individual financial circumstances, give you an honest view on any problem areas to look out for, and tell you how the court is likely to view your particular situation.

How are finances split in a divorce?

The court has ultimate discretion on the division of assets on divorce, guided by fundamental principles of sharing, needs and fairness. How your assets will be split depends on how long you’ve been married or in a civil partnership, as well as other factors, including:

  • Your age and your partner’s
  • Your ability to earn an income
  • Your property and money
  • Your standard of living and living expenses
  • Your role in the marriage (e.g. were you the primary breadwinner or the stay-at-home parent) and so on

The court will always strive to find the fairest solution, but arrangements for the children’s welfare (in terms of housing and child maintenance) always have the highest priority.

What is a fair split in a divorce?

Assets are not automatically split equally in a divorce. The main consideration is the individual needs of everyone involved, particularly the children.

The court may consider a 50/50 split if you have been married a long time – or an unequal split if they think one of you is in greater need than the other. For example, if one partner gave up a career to provide childcare, the judge may consider an unequal split.

What are matrimonial and non-matrimonial assets?

It’s important to distinguish between your matrimonial assets and your non-matrimonial assets, as it could make a difference to your divorce financial settlement.

Matrimonial assets are the financial assets that you and your spouse built up during the time you were married, including your:

  • Family home
  • Other property or land
  • Pensions
  • Savings
  • Cash in the bank
  • Vehicles
  • Furniture and appliances
  • Investments
  • Businesses

Non-matrimonial assets are financial assets which were acquired before or after the period you were married. Non-matrimonial assets typically include things like inheritances, family businesses and property bought before the marriage or after separation. Depending on your circumstances these non-matrimonial assets may or may not form part of the settlement.

How are matrimonial and non-matrimonial assets treated in a divorce?

During a divorce, your matrimonial assets may be divided between you and your spouse, regardless of where they came from originally, e.g. your career, an inheritance or gift from a family member. The split ultimately depends on the financial situation of each partner with priority for the children. Essentially the law in England and Wales requires that each of you should receive a fair settlement that meets your financial needs.

Non-matrimonial assets are a little more complicated. Even if you and your ex-partner have agreed to exclude them from the financial settlement, the court may decide differently. This may happen if the matrimonial assets are not enough to provide for your children or one of you. Or if a specific non-matrimonial asset was used in your marriage – for instance, if an inheritance funded building work on the family home.

Are debts considered matrimonial assets?

Yes. If you and your spouse have accrued any debts during the term of your marriage, these could  also be split as part of your divorce financial settlement. This includes your mortgage, credit cards, overdrafts, loans and any other commitments. It can be difficult to separate individual debt from family debt which can become an issue.

Are business assets included in a divorce settlement?

Business assets can be included in a divorce settlement. For example, a family business is likely to be seen as a source of income rather than an asset in the same way as a family home or savings pot. So even if one of the partners had no direct involvement in the business, or did not help to build it up, they may still be entitled to some of its value.

What happens to a business in a divorce could depend on careful, delicate negotiation between you, your partner and possibly other family members, so it’s vital your solicitor has the right expertise. At Clarke Willmott we have many years’ experience in supporting family businesses and farming families – some over several generations.

Are overseas assets included in a financial settlement?

Assets held overseas could  be considered and included in the same way as any other assets.

If you or your partner is a non-UK national, lives abroad or has property, a business or other assets overseas, consult an international divorce solicitor. There may be multi-jurisdictional issues to consider as part of your financial settlement.

And if you suspect your spouse may be hiding overseas assets or moving assets offshore to make them more difficult to recover, tell your solicitor immediately.

Your key contacts

Rayner Grice photo, Partner Family

Rayner Grice email Rayner Griceemail Rayner Grice

Partner

Birmingham

Rayner advises on the issues that arise for an individual following the breakdown of a relationship in relation to divorce/civil partnership dissolution, their financial affairs and their children.

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Chris Longbottom - Divorce and family solicitor - Clarke Willmott Manchester

Chris Longbottom email Chris Longbottomemail Chris Longbottom

Partner and National Family Team Manager at Clarke Willmott

Manchester

Chris provides advice on complex financial cases; often involving business interests, trusts, children, foreign assets and pensions.

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Adam Maguire - Divorce & Family Lawyer - Birmingham

Adam Maguire email Adam Maguireemail Adam Maguire

Partner

Birmingham

Adam specialises in divorce and family law. He advises clients regarding all aspects of private family law including cohabitation, separation, divorce and related financial issues, disputes concerning children and nuptial agreements.

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Gareth Schofield photo, Partner Family

Gareth Schofield email Gareth Schofieldemail Gareth Schofield

Partner

Bristol, Cardiff, London and Southampton

Gareth Schofield is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Bristol Family team specialising in divorce settlements and cohabitation disputes.

View profile for Gareth Schofield >
Clare Webb - Family Solicitor - Clarke Willmott Bristol

Clare Webb email Clare Webbemail Clare Webb

Partner

Bristol

Clare has built her practice with a commitment to helping her clients resolve their issues in a constructive and conciliatory way. In doing so, she will always have regard to the longterm hopes and aspirations for the family as a whole, whilst of course protecting her client’s interest.

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Philippa Yeo - Family Solicitor - Bristol

Philippa Yeo email Philippa Yeoemail Philippa Yeo

Partner

Bristol

Philippa is committed to helping couples navigate all aspects of the legal process on the breakdown of their relationship in a pragmatic, collaborative and family-focused way including supporting couples to reach arrangements for their children and achieve healthy future co-parenting relationships.

View profile for Philippa Yeo >

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