6 January 2023
After the intensity of the festive period with some couples holding it together for the sake of the family, Divorce Day, or D Day as it’s become known, looms ominously on 9th January 2023 – the first working Monday in January, with the New Year being the most popular time of year for couples to start divorce proceedings.
In 2021, there were 113,505 divorces granted in England and Wales, a 9.6% increase compared with 2020 when there were 103,592 divorces. It goes without saying that divorce can be an incredibly stressful and testing time, yet at a time when emotions are heightened, important decisions need to be made. Keeping a level head to negotiate a fair financial settlement is vital.
Amy Pethers, financial planner at wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin says, “Managing a divorce can be an emotional rollercoaster but with some smart advice at least the financial impact can be minimised, and future income needs protected.
“If you and your spouse can agree on what is a fair split, possibly with the help of mediation, court proceedings may be avoided. However, sometimes there is no alternative and the court will need to intervene.”
If you find yourself in this situation, here are Amy’s top 5 tips to take control and ensure a fair deal:
- Seek advice immediately
- Cancel all shared finances
- Timing is everything
- Splitting pensions
- Budget for your future
Amy concludes, “A financial expert can be invaluable in guiding you through the myriad of financial decisions from valuing and splitting pensions, financial disclosure, income planning, valuing investments, managing tax and implementing court decisions to get your finances back on a sound footing.”
ENDS
2The Money Advice Service: Dividing business interests on divorce or dissolution.
Disclaimers
The value of investments can fall and you may get back less than you invested. This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy. Information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness. RBC Brewin Dolphin is a trading name of Brewin Dolphin Limited. Brewin Dolphin Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register reference number 124444).
PRESS INFORMATION
For further information, please contact:
Richard Janes richard.janes@brewin.co.uk / Tel: +44 (0) 20 3201 3343
Siân Robertson: Sian.Robertson@brewin.co.uk / Tel: +44 (0) 20 3201 3026
Chloe McFarlane: chloe.mcfarlane@brewin.co.uk / Tel: +44 020 3201 3490
Payal Nair payal.nair@brewin.co.uk / Tel: +44 (0) 20 3201 3342
NOTES TO EDITORS
About RBC Brewin Dolphin
RBC Brewin Dolphin is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading wealth managers and traces its origins back to 1762. With £51.7* billion in assets under management, we offer award-winning, personalised wealth management services from bespoke, discretionary investment management to retirement planning and tax-efficient investing.
Our qualified investment managers and financial planners are based in 33 offices across the UK, Jersey and Republic of Ireland. They are committed to the most exacting standards of client service, with long-term thinking and absolute focus on our clients’ needs at the core.
As part of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), we are now able to draw on the strength of a global financial institution to continue to improve the service we provide to our clients and drive further innovation across our business.
*as at 30th June 2022.