Divorce information

Family Law & Divorce Solicitors in Lincoln

One of the most complex and important financial tasks in the break-down of a marriage is dividing assets accumulated in pension schemes.

It is therefore essential to obtain legal advice before considering any financial settlement. Who gets what is based upon a range of criteria and also the provisions of the particular scheme. A final settlement involving a division or other dealing in respect of a pension will need to be confirmed by a court order. It is important to note that upon divorce, beneficiary designations, if applicable, should be changed on pension schemes. In addition, consideration should be given to changing your will as your circumstances change.

The Court can:

• 'offset' if other capital is available they are used to pay the partner without a pension
• a sharing order which divides the pension to then be invested separately
• 'earmark' where a share of the pension is paid to the partner as it is received. Death in service benefit is also included. If one of the couple changes job it may affect death in service benefit, and if the partner receiving the order remarries the order no longer takes effect.

Matters regarding children are often arranged at the same time as finances. We can help you with:

• residence
• contact, to include overnight stays, supervision, holidays and if your child/ren no longer live in the UK
• paternal parental responsibility if you are not married to the child's mother
• abduction

Lincoln Solicitors, Dale and Co. know that Children's matters can be especially emotional and we will do our utmost to help resolve issues quickly and with the minimum of disruption for the child.

Property issues in financial settlements are resolved depending on the needs and resources of each partner. This can include:

• Sale of the property and the proceeds being split
• Ownership being transferred to one party; either for a lump sum or protected future interest
• The property is sold at a later date and the parties interests are adjusted accordingly.