Here at SNS, our specialist family law solicitors come across misunderstandings and expectations in our clients that do not correlate to the reality in our family law system. Sometimes that is good news for our client; sometimes it is not. Myth no 5: My ex will give me a lump sum so I don’t need to make a claim on their pension Pensions are often the asset that gets left until the last minute when separating couples think about what to do with their assets. It is understandable – when separating, usually the most pressing question is where to live and how to manage from month to month. An income in retirement can seem a long way off and not a priority. But the pensions can prove to be the
TEN COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FAMILY LAW Myth no 4: “I can change the locks on our house to keep m
One of the questions we are asked frequently is, “my partner has left the house and I don’t want them back and I’m thinking about changing the locks. Can I do this?” The answer depends on how you own your house. Where you jointly own the property or jointly rent If the house was purchased in joint names, your partner is a registered co-owner and that status confers on him or her a legal right to enter and remain within the boundary of the property, including the gardens. That is a right that you cannot prevent your partner from exercising except by way of a Court Order granting you exclusive occupation (an Occupation Order) – even if he or she has voluntarily vacated. The same is true where
Ten Common Misconceptions about Family Law Myth no 3: I have a decree absolute - so my ex has no cla
Many people get their divorce without consulting a solicitor. That the system has become more user-friendly, especially now that divorce can be conducted online, is a good thing. The process has become faster, and it is harder to make mistakes. It does mean however, that less people get advice on their unique situation. Every family, every couple, is different. In law, the division of the property and finances side of a divorce is separate from the divorce itself. This means that the divorce process, in being easier to conduct without a solicitor, can be seen at the whole process. But whilst the decree absolute ends the divorce, it does not end the parties’ claims for money and propert
Here at SNS, our specialist family law solicitors come across misunderstandings and expectations in our clients that do not correlate to the reality in our family law system. Sometimes that is good news for our client; sometimes it is not. Many people believe erroneously that the assets of a marriage are divided equally upon divorce and/or that you are automatically entitled to 50% of the total value of your combined assets. The reality is markedly different from this erroneous received wisdom. Matrimonial finance law is extremely complex but in simple terms the starting point is equal division of all the assets of the marriage, unless the family’s circumstances are such that there should b
