Overview
Reaching a fair financial settlement after the breakdown of a marriage or civil partnership is often the most complex and consequential part of the separation process. How your property, savings, pensions, debts, and income are divided will affect your financial security for the rest of your life.
Marsl Sharifi advises individuals in London and across England and Wales on financial settlements following separation and divorce. He helps clients understand what a fair outcome looks like, negotiate effectively, and protect any agreement in a legally binding consent order approved by the court — because without a court order, neither party has certainty or finality.
Who this service is for
- You are separating or divorcing and have property, savings, pensions, investments, or significant debts that need to be divided.
- You and your spouse or civil partner are trying to agree on financial arrangements and want legal advice to ensure the agreement is fair and legally sound.
- You cannot agree on finances and need Marsl to negotiate on your behalf or advise on the litigation route.
- You have already reached an informal arrangement but want it recorded in a binding court order.
- You are concerned that your spouse or civil partner is hiding or dissipating assets.
What you'll need
- Mortgage statements and property valuations.
- Bank statements for all accounts (ordinarily the last twelve months).
- Evidence of savings, investments, ISAs, and shareholdings.
- Pension statements — most recently issued cash equivalent transfer value (CETV).
- Evidence of income — payslips (three months), P60, and if self-employed, two to three years of accounts and tax returns.
- Details of any outstanding debts — loans, credit cards, hire purchase.
- Evidence of any business interests.
- Details of any property or financial interests abroad.
Fees
Marsl's professional fees for a financial settlement are £3,000 + VAT. Fees depend on the complexity of the financial matters and whether the settlement is agreed or contested. The court fee for a financial remedy application is currently £275. In accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules, full fee information is set out in your client care letter.
The process, step by step
- Step 1
Initial advice and financial disclosure
Marsl advises on what you are likely to be entitled to and what obligations you face. He helps you compile your financial disclosure and reviews your spouse's.
- Step 2
Negotiation
Marsl negotiates on your behalf — directly with your spouse's solicitor, or through mediation if that is the preferred route — to reach an agreement.
- Step 3
Drafting the consent order
Once agreement is reached, Marsl drafts the consent order setting out the terms of the financial settlement. This document is then filed with the court for approval. Until the court has approved it, the agreement is not binding.
- Step 4
Court approval
The court reviews the consent order to ensure it is fair. In most cases this is done without a hearing. Once approved, the order is sealed and becomes binding.
- Step 5
Implementation
The terms of the order are then implemented — for example, the transfer of a property, the division of a pension (via a pension sharing annex), or lump sum payments. Negotiated settlements that proceed to a consent order typically take between three and nine months. If contested proceedings are required (financial remedy proceedings), this can take considerably longer.