People in the UK have around 20 million small pension pots worth under £10,000 each. These small deferred pension pots have been accumulated as people change employment during their working lives. Many of the pension pots are very small and therefore expensive to run and that results in lower returns. Read more…
What the law says about dividing finances and property on divorce is lacking – including among divorcees themselves. The study, by the University of Bristol, found that less than half of ten statements were correctly identified as either true or false. The levels of understanding was only slightly better among Read more…
Just over a quarter of a million recent divorces were postponed due to financial pressures since 2020. 17% of divorces were deferred because of money worries. Couples cited income concerns, rising living expenses and the cost of divorce. Once separated, almost half of divorcees see their incomes shrink by an Read more…
The delays for public sector workers in getting their pension valuations are continuing. Many people cannot complete their divorce settlements because of the changes in how pension pots are valued. The government’s Money Helper website says that if you qualify for a Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV), it must be Read more…
The High Court has overturned a judge’s decision to forego the financial dispute resolution (FDR) in a case where there was “an ongoing factual dispute about the wife’s earning capacity and that the wife’s position had not crystallised to enable the FDR process to be successful”. The High Court judge Read more…
Measures to protect women and girls from violence are to be improved by putting specialists in domestic abuse in 999 call centres. Last year, the police recorded 100 offences related to domestic abuse every hour. This new initiative aims to ensure that calls for help are treated urgently and that Read more…
A separating family attends a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM) for a mediator to assess the issues that must be resolved. They will check if you are eligible for a voucher, whether the dispute or application concerns a child, and whether you are involved in financial matters related to a Read more…
More than 27,000 separating families have saved money, protected their children and avoided lengthy, expensive and combative courtroom battles, thanks to a £23 million government scheme. The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme provides funding to help families navigate the complexities of separation, allowing them to settle issues around childcare and finances Read more…
If you have been a victim of domestic abuse, you will be able to claim a one-off payment to enable you to leave your abuser. The funding will cover essential items such as groceries, nappies or support with somewhere new to live. Victims can also apply for a further one-off Read more…
Recent research into the experience of children and young people who go through private family court proceedings has developed some recommendations to improve the process. Researchers recommend that children should: Be sent information about who they will meet and what they will be asked before the meeting Have things explained Read more…