Financial Orders

Financial Orders are legally binding documents that formalise the specifics of the financial obligations agreed upon between a divorcing couple.

Marriage opens up financial obligations towards your spouse, which are not automatically brought to an end through divorce proceedings. The decree absolute of divorce only ends the contract of marriage and divorce opens up the possibility of making financial claims against your spouse, to enable capital, income and pensions to be distributed following the breakdown of the marriage.

Unless there is a separate order that also dismisses or otherwise deals with the financial claims that are available upon divorce, those claims remain open indefinitely.

This is the case even if you and your spouse reach an agreement directly and divide your assets between you.

A financial order is the only means by which you can be certain that any agreement will be upheld by both spouses.

Practical Family Law can help you achieve certainty in relation to your future finances.