When I started going through divorce, I couldn’t find a guide that would help me to understand the basic process and to explain the options I had available. And so,…
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Divorce is one of the most stressful experiences we can have in our lives. It has often been equated to grief in terms of the emotional rollercoaster we find ourselves…
When It’s Time to Start Dating Again Over the years many of us will have had a variety of dating experiences. Starting with the crushes of our early school years,…
I have been invited to guest on a brilliant podcast, Black Millennial Money, which we are recording this week. During the preparation, we began talking about some of the myths…
In 2022, Family Mediation Week runs from the 17th to the 21st January. During the week, there are many webinars held, for professionals and also for the general public, to…
I have had this situation with a number of my clients in the past week. They have received an offer for settlement of the finances but without them having exchanged…
The form E is a legal document designed to give the court full details of your financial arrangements. If you apply to the court for a financial order, you and…
I have been inspired to write about this by our friend, divorce coach Tosh Brittan, who I spoke to recently for the YouTube channel (out 15th October 2021) and podcast…
A question I often get asked by clients is “do we really need an actuary?” There are circumstances where the answer is most definitely YES. There are also circumstances where…
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by money issues and the financial decisions that you need to make during divorce, you probably have work to do on your money mindset. Don’t worry,…
Ending a relationship, whether cohabitation, civil partnership or marriage, is difficult at any age. However, when you are past retirement age, it can be even more tricky to come to…
I always recommend that couples sort and divide their finances before beginning divorce proceedings. It’s not an easy process. You can go to court and ask a judge to divide…
Getting divorced while remaining civil or even becoming friends can be possible. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin called it ‘consciously uncoupling’. Just because you have decided that you no longer…
Getting a divorce is a massive undertaking. You have to be able to negotiate with your ex-spouse, plan for a future that feels unknown and ensure you’re looking after your…
When it comes to divorce and pensions, things can start to get complicated. At the best of times, pensions are complex, but when you are divorcing and trying to plan…
As parents, your primary concern when getting divorced is your kids. You desperately want them to be okay. That’s completely understandable. I’ve not met a parent who hasn’t worried about…
You’ve both made the decision. You’re getting divorced. You’ve explored every other avenue, but both you and your spouse know it’s time to end the marriage and start re-building. Coming…
When you separate, the first question you ask is, “where do we start?” With a huge amount of advice being given to you by friends and family, it is hard…
We are often asked how we can help when people initially contact us. So, why do you need a divorce financial planner on your team? When you decide to separate,…
Are you feeling ready to take some action? Do you feel as though you don’t know where to start? Lots of people feel that way. Take your time. There really…
In the course of my work, I speak to a lot of people who tell me that they put money into savings every month. Yet somehow their savings don’t seem…
In the current economic climate, there are a lot of people worried about redundancies, their own businesses and how they are going to make ends meet if something happens. In…
When you divorce, the responsibility for paying for your lifestyle rests solely with you. I’m sure that you know that. It sounds a bit stark, but it is important, if…
The question, “what divorce settlement am I entitled to?” is probably the question most asked to divorce financial planners, family lawyers and mediators when they first meet a prospective client….
One of the first questions we ask ourselves when the decision is made to separate is “will I be able to keep my home?”, or alternatively “where am I going…
Divorce is an all too familiar part of modern-day life, but that unfortunate reality doesn’t make it any less distressing when it happens to you. No one gets married anticipating…
Mediation has a range of benefits for divorcing couples. It can be faster than going through the courts, it prioritises positive outcomes rather than applying strict legal rules, and it…
Divorce is so commonplace that many of us will know someone who’s been divorced, maybe more than once! And yet, when it happens to us it’s devastating. Our plans, dreams…
Since I last sat down to write, the whole world has changed, or so it feels. Yet, I walk outside and everything still looks the same. As the government ask…
I have been a single mum for about 4 years now. My children are 16 and nearly 15. I regularly have conversations with my married friends about whether being a…
Self care during divorce is essential. Stress is here to stay and a natural part of life. It’s important we learn how to manage it better instead of trying to…
Have you ever changed school, moved home, left one job for another and realised that by doing so you’re starting again and leaving all your friends behind? Going away to…
Making time for yourself is difficult at any time but when you’re going through traumatic times in your life, it is even harder. However, self care is vital to deal…
As you may have read in our previous blogs, No Fault Divorce has been on the table for some time. In 2019, it was moving forward at a pace. However,…
After a divorce we can feel demoralised and demotivated. This can be the case especially if it’s been a protracted ending with lots of hurtful exchanges going back and forth….
Relations between you and your partner have gone sour. You have decided that the time has come to end your marriage. However, Christmas is nearly here so for the sake…
There are certain times of the year when being alone, perhaps without your children, can feel especially raw. Christmas Day, long Bank Holiday weekends, holidays and key social events can…
I remember my paternal grandad retiring, probably because he took us to Disneyland when he did! His retirement meant going from full time work in an office in Cardiff to…
When you separate, one of the biggest fears that you have initially is whether you will be ok financially. You may be wondering what you are entitled to, whether you…
Certain times of the year lend themselves to reflection and an appreciation of the impact different people and experiences have had upon our lives. Many of us have specific dates…
There are various times since I separated that I have experienced the loneliness of divorce. It hasn’t always happened when I’ve been on my own. I have sometimes had a…
In this Master Chef era I began to wonder if I could easily identify the ingredients for family mediation. For 10 years I have focused my practice on keeping separating…
Ways to manage a difficult divorce when you’re a parent So your forever dream relationship has ended in the most painful of ways. You want to cry, scream, curl up…
If you don’t have children, you can divorce and never see one another again. However, if you have children, you have to accept that they will link you forever, even…
(One for the girls) Traditionally when a woman gets married to a man, they change their surname to his. When a woman marries another woman, they often use one of…
When we set up Smart Divorce, it was to help individuals and couples to divorce amicably. The blogs I have written have this idea at their heart. However, we have…
As a divorcing parent, the weekends can be difficult. This is particularly the case if it’s your weekend away from the children. After a particularly bad week, I’m sure that…
How did they find us? We recently met a new client through their family lawyer. It is not unusual for people to come to us this way. They know how…