McKenzie Friend for Financial Settlements After Divorce
Worried about how to divide finances fairly after divorce or separation?
Whether it’s about dividing the family home, pensions, child maintenance, or business assets, at McKenzie Friend Service, we make financial settlements simple, affordable, and fair.
With our help, you’ll be fully prepared for each step of the process—from filing your application to handling the Final Hearing, if necessary. We’re here to make sure you feel confident, prepared, and supported throughout.
We help you:
👉 Present clear facts to support your claim – whether you want to stay or sell.
👉 Through Pension Sharing Orders and fair spousal maintenance claims.
👉 Reach clear child support agreements – without endless back and forth.
👉 Make sure you don’t lose what’s yours – from shared businesses to joint bank accounts.
Free 30-Min Consultation Available ↓
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What Are Financial Settlements in Divorce?
A financial settlement is a legal agreement that divides assets and liabilities between divorcing or separating couples.
This includes property, savings, investments, pensions, and debts. The goal is to reach a fair and equitable division of assets,
taking into account factors such as income, needs, and contributions to the relationship.
Financial Claims for Children
During a separation, securing financial support for your children is essential. You could claim for several key areas:
Property Arrangements
This makes sure your children have a stable, comfortable home. A financial settlement can help secure either ownership or rental arrangements.
Child Maintenance
Regular payments from one parent to the other can cover everyday expenses and education, providing necessary support based on each parent’s financial situation.
Lump Sum
Sometimes, a lump sum is paid by one parent to cover long-term needs. This can support significant expenses, such as education funds for your children’s future.
Five Years of Separation
If you had been separated for at least five years, regardless of your spouse’s opinion.
Desertion
If your spouse left you for at least two years.
What Can Affect Your Divorce Settlement
When deciding on financial settlements in divorce cases, courts follow the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. A 50/50 split is usually the starting point, but other factors are also considered to ensure the outcome fits your settlement case:
Income & Financial Resources
The court looks at each person’s income, earning potential, property, and other financial resources. They also expect reasonable steps to be taken to increase income where possible.
Financial Needs & Obligations
Both current and future needs and responsibilities are reviewed by the judge to assess the level of support each party may require.
Familys Standard of Living
The court considers the lifestyle you and your family had during the marriage as a reference for future financial arrangements.
Age & Duration of Marriage
The age of each spouse and how long the marriage lasted can influence the financial settlement, especially if retirement or major life changes are involved.
Contributions to the Family
The court values both financial and non-financial contributions, such as raising children or managing the household, in the final decision.
Lost Benefits
If one partner loses important benefits due to the divorce (like pension entitlements), there are chances that the court may address this in dividing assets.
Financial Claims for Unmarried Couples
For unmarried couples, the law treats financial claims differently—even if you’ve been together for years. If you have children together, specific claims are available to secure their well-being.
Here’s what we help you understand:
Knowing Your Right
Unmarried partners have no automatic right to each other’s property, savings, or pensions after separation. However, if you have children, you have chances to claim financial support for their future stability.
Family Home Arrangements
Unmarried partners may not equally claim the family home. With children, you could secure residence or request housing funds through specific claims, like a ‘trust of land' until your children are adults.
What a Financial Settlement Can Cover
A financial settlement is a clear, legally binding agreement that spells out how you and your ex-partner will split your assets after a divorce or separation. Here’s what can be covered:
Property
Dividing the family home or other real estate, whether it means transferring ownership or arranging a sale.
Savings, Money & Investments
Sorting out who keeps savings accounts, stocks, or other investments.
Spousal & Child Maintenance
Deciding on regular support payments to help with daily costs and ensure stability for any children involved.
Pensions
Reviewing pension entitlements and figuring out how these will be shared, which can be complex but important for long-term financial security.
Get help From McKenzie Friend
If needed, we bring in financial experts to help accurately value assets or uncover hidden funds, so you get a fair view of what’s at stake. We’re here to help you reach a settlement that gives you peace of mind and sets you up for a stable future.
Divorce Financial Settlements - McKenzie Friend UK
Our McKenzie Friends provide tailored support at each step of your financial settlement case.
Whether you need help with the entire process or just a few specific steps, we’re here to make things easier.
Filling The Application
Our McKenzie Friends help with Form A to start your case smoothly. Financial claims are not easy. We make sure to avoide any mistakes and delays.
First Directions Appointment (FDA)
Our experts guide you through this first court hearing, where additional details may be required. We help you understand the court process and present any needed information.
Financial Disclosure (Form E)
Completing Form E can be complex. We guide you in detailing your assets, income, properties, and debts. This step, called financial disclosure, ensures both sides are transparent about their finances.
Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR)
At the FDR court hearing, the judge encourages both sides to reach an agreement. We help you draft confidential offers and negotiate with the other party, so that you settle your case without a trial.
Chronology & Statement Of Issues
Our team will help you prepare a Chronology (a timeline of key events) and a Statement of Issues, which outlines what still needs resolving in the family court.
Pre-Trial Review (PTR)
About six weeks before the Final Hearing, our team helps with the PTR. We’ll check that all previous court orders are met and help with any final preparations.
Questionnaires & Responses
Need more information from the other party’s Form E? We help create a Questionnaire to gather missing, false, or unclear details to get full financial clarity and accountability.
Final Hearing Preparation
If your case goes to trial, we support you by organising all required documents. We prepare a s.25 statement (addressing the court’s key criteria), arrange for witnesses, draft cross-examination questions and closing arguments.
Save On Legal Fees: Sort Out Your Financial Claims With Ease!
We’re offering a FREE 30-minute consultation (office or video call) to discuss your financial settlements case.
Financial Settlements - 3 Easy Steps!
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Identify Your Assets and Liabilities
We'll work with you to identify all assets and debts, including property, savings, investments, and pensions. -
Negotiate A Fair Settlement
Our skilled McKenzie Friends will work with you and your partner to reach a mutually agreeable settlement. -
Protect Your Financial Future
We'll help you develop a financial plan to ensure your long-term financial security.
FAQs: Divorce Financial Settlements
A Financial Remedy is the court-led process to divide finances after a divorce. It covers property, lump-sum payments, pensions, spousal support, and child support. The court will look at both your assets and your ex-spouse’s to decide what’s fair. This can include business shares, savings, and other assets.
To settle finances, start by submitting your application and required financial documents. About 10 weeks later, you’ll have a First Directions Appointment (FDA) where the court checks if all documents are in order. If they are, you’ll attend a Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearing, where a judge will review your case, offer guidance, and suggest a possible financial order. You can accept or reject this. If either of you disagrees, the case may go to trial.
Our McKenzie Friends are here to support you with preparing documents, understanding each step, and planning your best approach.
Generally, inheritance is seen as a “non-matrimonial asset,” which means it isn’t automatically part of the split. But, it may be included if both parties need it to meet financial needs. If your inheritance was used during the marriage—like buying a family home—it could be harder to protect. We can help you gather documentation to make your case clearer.
There’s no simple rule for dividing finances. Courts look at each marriage and each person’s contributions, resources, and needs. Pre-nuptial agreements may help, but courts can ignore them if they seem unfair to either party or any children involved.
If both of you agree, a settlement can be reached in 3-6 months. If you go to court, it may take up to 12 months. Our McKenzie Friends can help you organise documents, prepare for each step, and keep things moving for a quicker outcome, and that too at an affordable cost.
You only need to file your petition in court. If both of you agree on the divorce terms, you won’t need to attend court. You can also agree on financial matters without court involvement, but it’s best to make your financial settlement legally binding by recording it in a court order.
If you can’t agree, the court will decide for you. This may involve a Final Hearing where both of you present evidence, and a judge decides on asset division. Our McKenzie Friends can help you prepare statements, organise evidence, and make sure you’re ready.
Yes, if major changes occur, like job loss, serious health problems, or a big change in income. The court will then review the order if it feels a change is fair.
Family Court Help Wherever You Need It
Locations: 3 offices + in-person/remote support at major UK family courts.
We can also travel to your court for assistance wherever you are.
Main Office - Birmingham
Regional Office - London
- +44 20 8150 6881
- info@mckenziefriend.net
- Mon - Sunday (9 AM - 8 PM)
- 5 Chancery Ln, London WC2A 1LG, United Kingdom
Regional Office - Manchester
- +44 161 669 6269
- info@mckenziefriend.net
- Mon - Sunday (9 AM - 8 PM)
- 3 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2BN, United Kingdom
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