Financial Settlement on Divorce
At Myerson, we understand that a lot of marriages break down because of fault on both sides.
It can be quite common that one party may feel a huge sense of guilt if they have left their spouse or civil partner.
The marriage may have broken down due to:
- One party announcing they are homosexual.
- One party wishing to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
- One party committing adultery.
- One party having relationships with prostitutes and watching pornographic material.
- One party leaving the other due to the other party’s inability to have children.
- One party leaving the other due to the other party’s sickness.
- Addiction issues.
Pursuing Financial Claims
Many people do not pursue their financial claims following a marriage breakdown because they feel ashamed or guilty about their behaviour. Others do not resolve financial matters due to the volatility in temper of the party who has been left behind. They believe that, in time, the spouse who they have left behind will “forgive” them and that it may be easier to resolve matters financially further down the line. Unfortunately, this can often turn out to be a false assumption. Continuing to pay household bills and maintenance can lead to a precedent being fixed that this level of financial support will continue into the long term.
People often assume that there will be a financial impact if one party has had an affair or left the marriage but, this will not likely make any difference to the overall division of assets.
The family court is not concerned about why the marriage ended. The court’s aim is to distribute the available assets fairly between the parties.
The starting point for the court is the checklist set out in Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1975, otherwise known as the section 25 factors which are:
- The income, earning capacity, property, and other financial resources which each party has or is likely to have in the future.
- The financial needs and responsibilities that each of the parties to the marriage has or is likely to have in the future.
- The standard of living enjoyed by the family before separation.
- Any physical or mental disability of the parties.
- The age of the parties and the length of the marriage.
- The contributions made by each party to the welfare of the family (which means the contributions made towards looking after the home and the children are regarded as equal to the contributions made by the “breadwinner” of the family).
- The conduct of each of the parties.
- The value to each party to the marriage of any benefit which by reason of the divorce a party will lose the chance of acquiring.
It can be tempting for parties to want to list the details of each other’s bad behaviour, but it is rarely the case that conduct will be relevant in financial order proceedings. Although conduct is one of the section 25 factors, it will only be considered in very exceptional circumstances.
In the case of OG v AG, Mr Justice Mostyn said ‘times have changed, the financial remedy court is no longer a court of morals. Conduct should be taken into account not only where it is inequitable to disregard but only where its impact is financially measurable. It is unprincipled for the court to stick a finger in the air and arbitrarily to fine a party for what it regards as immoral conduct.’
If you have divorced but not sorted out the financial arrangements, then it is still possible to make a claim, provided that you have not remarried.
Here to Help
There is no time limit for making a claim. If you are concerned that you have walked away from your marriage or civil partnership without a fair financial settlement, then please get in touch with a member of our Family team on 0161 941 4000 or email the Myerson Family Law Team.