Divorce is an unpleasant process however you look at it, but reaching a settlement with your former partner can prove particularly stressful. A divorce solicitor will be able to advise you on how to get the most from your settlement, especially if children and/or property are involved.

Most often, the couples’ home is their largest asset. Full details of this property, as well as any others in which either party has an interest, must be declared so that a fair division can be reached. Withholding information about properties owned / managed by either partner can lead to problems further down the line, so it is in everyone’s interest to ensure these are declared.

It is not uncommon in divorce proceedings for one partner to try and sell the family home, or even other properties, before reaching a financial agreement. This can be done deliberately to remove the need to declare property interests, or even to hinder the other party’s claim for a fair financial settlement. If the property is registered to both parties’ name, however, this will often prove unsuccessful; the solicitor handling the sale of the property will require the signatures of both parties before the sale can go ahead. This illustrates the importance of declaring any property interests, though.

Child maintenance and custody can also prove troublesome when reaching a divorce settlement.  Depending on the circumstances of the party who gains custody of the children, child maintenance payments may have to be made by the other party. This ensures the child(ren) are able to have a comfortable upbringing, and while the financial burden may not be ideal, the party responsible should take care to remember that it is solely for the child(ren)’s benefit.

Spousal maintenance may also be considered, although less frequently than child maintenance. This often occurs when one party has little or no experience necessary to gain employment in order to support themselves after the marriage. It is most likely that this will be a temporary payment while training is undertaken.

Joint possessions of all types will also be considered in the settlement; an agreement can either be reached to divide possessions up, or they can be sold and the money split. While divorce is never a pleasant outcome for a marriage, maximising a divorce settlement will at least enable you to begin a new life of your own.