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The short answer: it depends. Both spouses will need to provide full details about their assets and income, with documentation in support e.g. bank statements, pay slips, property valuation, mortgage statements. This is so that the court can...
This is a time of year when families and friends come together for celebration and festivities. Unfortunately, it is also the time of year when cracks within relationships can show themselves. Christmas on the one hand can be a joyous time. On the other...
You may be familiar with the term “Gaslighting” but may not fully understand what this means. Gaslighting is a subtle, yet dangerous form of control and the victim is usually unaware that they are experiencing it. In simple terms it...
As Rebecca Laffan reported in April of last year, Capital Gains Tax rules for separating couples are changing. Following the Spring Budget, we now know that these rules are coming into force in April 2023. What are the new rules? The new rules are...
The divorce and dissolution process in England and Wales changed on 6th April 2022, allowing couples to divorce or end their civil partnership without blaming the other for the breakdown of the relationship. The new ‘no fault’ system allows...
Although efforts have been made to make the law surrounding divorce and custody disputes, more ‘user friendly’ there are still some terms which can remain a bit of a mystery to non-lawyers! One of those terms is habitual residence. It crops up...
The Final Hearing will usually be the third and final court hearing within financial remedy proceedings. The Judge will make a decision on your financial position and impose a settlement on you and your husband/wife if agreement is not reached. Prior to the...
There have been recent changes to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rules that will affect separating and divorcing couples which are going to be implemented from April 2022. What was the previous position? Previously there was a ‘no gain no...
The introduction of ‘no fault’ divorce in April 2022 is perhaps the biggest shake-up in divorce law for decades. The aim is end the “blame game” and reduce acrimony and hostility which can be made worse under the old regime. Now,...
The Harrowells Family Team is ranked in the Legal 500 and receive praise from clients and professionals for our approach to family law “One of my favourite family law firms in Yorkshire with two great partners in Lucy Phipps and Amy Foweather. They...
There is no magical equation or ‘one size fits all’ formula to separating assets on divorce and dividing up the family home is no different. The family home will be treated as a matrimonial asset regardless of whether it is owned in the sole...
The Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) Hearing is usually the second court hearing that takes place in financial remedy proceedings - the overall process by which the court decides how to distribute assets between a divorcing couple. During this...
One of the most important parts of getting divorce, is reaching a financial settlement. A lot of couples are able to agree this without going to court, but if there are difficulties in achieving this. Perhaps with one person not providing their financial...
You will often receive correspondence within divorce proceedings or a financial offer marked ‘Without Prejudice’ and you may be wondering what this means. ‘Without Prejudice’ means ‘without loss of any rights’ and the...
One of the questions we are often asked, in cases involving sizeable pensions, is how they can be protected from a claim from a spouse upon separation. Pensions are generally treated a little differently to capital when looking at assets because, whilst a...
When looking at a financial settlement, all of the assets that you and your spouse own or have an interest in will for part of the ‘pot’ to be divided and that includes businesses whether they be sole trader, limited company or partnerships. As...
Regardless of the assets in a case, an application for divorce and the prospect of trying to reach a financial settlement can be daunting. However, high net worth cases can quickly become more complex. This is largely because of the type of assets...
If you are made redundant from your job, you will often receive a financial settlement. Whether or not your redundancy package will be shared as part of a divorce settlement is circumstantial. For example, it may depend upon whether the redundancy package...
If you are intending to divorce, you do not need to attend mediation before you start the divorce proceedings. However, if there are financial issues to resolve, or if you are not agreed about arrangements for your children, then you may need to attend...
The main point to take away from this blog is do NOT ignore cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin which typically use blockchain technology to trade digitally. I have known clients try to simply dismiss the fact that they think their spouse might have bought...
Having full information about your husband or wife’s financial circumstances is a fundamental part of reaching a divorce settlement. You should ensure you have all of this information before you start discussing how you might divide your assets,...
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, the family court in England has had to radically upgrade and change the way it works. There had been a move to submitting some applications and documents online in the months leading up to the...
The current financial uncertainty stemming from Covid-19 needs to be considered carefully by couples who are currently going through a divorce or are thinking about starting the process. It is important that you do not overlook pension assets because they...
The case of W v H will always hold a special place in my heart as the case that reaffirmed that family law was the area I wanted to specialise in and in particular, finances on divorce. I had the pleasure assisting with this case throughout the paralegal and...
Due to the coronavirus pandemic a lot of people are struggling financially. This is likely to be a result of their business having to stop trading or they, like many others, have been placed on furlough. As a result of this there has been an upsurge in...
Q: How do current restrictions impact agreements concerning timescales for property transfers? A. If timescales required to achieve a transfer of property are underestimated, it could leave one party in breach of an Order. Whilst ordinarily...
As people still get to grips with the ‘new normal’ of working from home, it isn’t really any different for solicitors, barristers and judges who are setting up domestic courtrooms in dining rooms and living rooms up and down the...
Q. Should we now get another house valuation for our divorce financial negotiations? A. If you are still negotiating your divorce financial settlement and you had your house valued before Covid-19 struck the UK, you may be wondering whether...
Q. Can we still reach a financial settlement in our divorce during lockdown? A. Whilst the coronavirus lockdown may have put a temporary pause on going out and about and enjoying life as we know it, not everything needs to be put on hold, including...
Q. Can I reduce or miss periodical payments because my business is closed or because I have been furloughed? A. Unfortunately, we have seen some parties making unilateral decisions to reduce or miss periodical payments. These are payments ordered...
Although farming families are often close-knit, the long-hours and pressures of running a business can take their toll, leading to relationship breakdown and divorce. The often complex nature of farming partnerships, land holdings and other business assets...
A consent order is the final document in your financial settlement which sets out how your property and money, including but not exclusive to, savings, investments and pensions will be divided. You can reach an agreement out-of-court with your spouse with...
When seeking a Financial Settlement integral to divorce, the first step is almost always for there to be an exchange of full and frank disclosure. The duty to disclose financial information remains open throughout the case and helps to ensure that both...
In many divorce cases, the family home is one of the most valuable assets a couple will have and is central to reaching a financial settlement. Depending upon how much equity there is in your house, the options are generally as follows: allow one person...
Whilst moving out of the marital home won’t affect your rights to the property, there can be reasons to stay put if it is safe to do so. The main reason to stay in the house, if you can, is to assist with a sale. If the house is to be sold, remaining...
Christmas can be a stressful time for families, financial pressures and trying to please everyone can take its toll. January is often said to be ‘divorce month’ for this reason, so what can you do to stop your marriage heading in...
At present, the only immediate facts upon which you can base a divorce in England, are adultery or unreasonable behaviour. Whilst these are commonly used to avoid waiting for 2 years to pass before divorcing, there is a common misconception that agreeing to...
Whilst most people are keen to seek the final decree in their divorce after what can be a long process, it is important to take legal advice and check your timing. If not, you risk financial detriment, despite all the effort and time which goes into your...
Depending upon the length of the marriage, and whether there is a Pre-Nuptial Agreement or not, all assets of the marriage are pooled and treated as joint assets. Money or property that you’ve inherited are not automatically excluded from the...
Can I get remarried before my financial settlement is concluded? When going through divorce proceedings , it is vital to ensure that all financial matters have been fully resolved before considering remarriage. A great number of people are unaware that...
When you meet with your family solicitor , part of the process will be for you and your ex-partner to provide disclosure of all your financial affairs. As part of that process, you will also be asked to prepare a budget of your current outgoings and, based...
There are two types of maintenance. A parent who does not live with their child may be liable to pay child maintenance ; we explain that in more detail in our blog on how is child maintenance calculated? In this blog we focus on the other...
Quite understandably, when people visit a solicitor for the first time following the breakdown of their marriage, the issue of their income is often at the forefront of their mind. Maintenance is the term that is used when one spouse pays to...
When you get divorced you should also consider the financial claims that exist between you and your spouse. A divorce doesn’t mean that financial claims come to an end. Until a Court Order has been made, either providing for a financial settlement...
If you are considering gifting property , land or money to your family, or if you are about to receive a gift, then you should read this article first. Agreements between couples, regulating how they own and share assets, are becoming far more common. This...
There are family lawyers and family law teams who promote themselves as always adopting a particular negotiating style: for example very consensual or very hard-edged. This might appeal when you are deciding who to instruct, particularly in the often...
Divorcing couples often focus on dividing their ‘visible’ capital in the family home and in bank accounts, overlooking assets accumulated in occupational or private pensions. The financial value of such pension rights can, in many cases, be...
You may have seen recent coverage of Legal and General's research into 'Bank of Mum and Dad' which reveals the average parental contribution for home buyers this year is around £18,000; this is some 17% lower than last year’s figure...
There is a common assumption that all property assets, such as the family home and investment properties, are shared by spouses and so subject to sale or sharing out on divorce. This is not necessarily the case. If you acquired or inherited a property...
A pension can be a very valuable asset in a marriage and dealing with it on the breakdown of a relationship can be complex. There are three main ways the pension can be treated: Pension Sharing – the court has power to order a pension share,...
'The team at Harrowells are a perfect size. Big enough to have the coverage and expertise we need, but small enough for us to feel we know all involved and that we are an important client.'
'Matthew Rowley was exceptional and a real pleasure to work with. I would recommend him without hesitation.'
Feedback published in Legal 500 (2025 edition), Corporate & Commercial
'First class client service making clients feel that their needs are top priority Don’t get hung up on administration and seamlessly incorporate it into workflows, no compliance dramas.'
'Businesslike, focused on the service required, on time, approachable, flexible. Basically, the people, both Partner and Associate treat me as I treat my own clients leading to good teamwork and satisfaction all round.'
Feedback published in the Legal 500 (2025 edition), Commercial Property
'Our solicitor had great experience in the field of agricultural sales, which reassured us that the often archaic laws will be adhered to.'
'A strong team able to cover the breadth of expertise our client-base demands. There is strong synergy with their other departments, such as private client, to ensure their advice is robust. A good geographic spread of offices to ensure clients have the ability to meet their solicitor at mutually convenient locations.'
Feedback published in the Legal 500 (2025 edition), Agriculture & Estates
'Their knowledge of insolvency has assisted in allowing our team to progress cases swiftly, and always with a positive outcome (or sensible resolution).'
'Richard Hugill and Paul Burkinshaw both continue to provide a pragmatic approach to a number of scenarios provided over the many years we have worked together.'
Feedback published in the Legal 500 (2025 edition), Commercial Litigation
'Simon Black - I found him to be an exceptional lawyer who was thoroughly on top of his file and prepared to go the extra mile for his clients. He was also a hugely persuasive force at mediation and precisely the kind of lawyer you would want in your corner.'
Feedback published in the Legal 500 (2025 edition), Contentious Probate
'Always available to talk and always supportive. Professional, knowledgeable and supportive, as well as kind and welcoming. Richard Wood always went the extra mile and was exceptional to work with.'
'I cannot recommend Harrowells highly enough. Their team, led by Richard Wood, who was my solicitor, were informative, speedy and exceptionally capable. I didn’t ever have to chase for a response, and updates were frequent and clear.'
Feedback published in the Legal 500 (2025 edition), Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury
‘The support provided by the Harrowells family team, headed up by the extraordinary Amy Foweather, has been absolutely exceptional. Always highly engaged, friendly, attentive to all details, responsive and with a good understanding of client's needs.'
‘Amy Foweather is an exceptional lawyer. She is highly organised, extremely efficient, knowledgeable and caring, offering well researched and pragmatic advice. Amy has been an absolute pleasure to work with.'
Feedback published in the Legal 500 (2025 edition), Family Law
'When dealing with Harrowells as a customer, you very soon become aware of their exceptional professional skills. You are carefully guided through the various processes involved in your case. Whatever you ask is answered and fully explained in great, but understandable, detail.'
Feedback published in the Legal 500 (2025 edition), Trust & Probate
Over the Christmas and New Year holiday season all our offices will be closed at 1pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and then reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025. This means all our offices will be closed during the period...
With increasing numbers of couples choosing to live together without getting married, cohabitation agreements are becoming an essential legal tool in the UK. These agreements provide clarity and security for unmarried couples by outlining financial...
Am I legally liable for the behaviour of my employees at our Christmas party?
It is important to realise that a work’s Christmas party is a work-related event and it should be treated as an extension of the workplace. So, you can be legally liable for the behaviour of members of staff whilst at a Christmas party. The best way...
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