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Solicitors for high net worth divorce

When a marriage involves substantial or complex assets, the legal process of divorce raises a distinct set of financial and procedural challenges. The breadth of assets in play, the difficulty of valuing them accurately, and the need to reach a settlement that is fair to both parties all require a level of expertise that goes beyond a straightforward divorce.

Cases of this kind often involve multimillion-pound property portfolios, business interests, offshore holdings, trust structures, and pension arrangements that span multiple jurisdictions. The more varied and internationally dispersed those assets are, the more demanding the legal and financial analysis becomes – and the greater the risk that assets are undervalued, overlooked, or not fully disclosed.

We are the UK’s largest specialist family law firm, with over 90 offices across England and Wales, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, Newcastle, Oxford, Nottingham, Leicester, Reading, and York. Our high net worth divorce team is consistently recognised for the quality of its work: Ranked as a Leading Firm by both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners 2026, named in The Times Best Law Firms in 2026, and rated Excellent on Trustpilot.

What sets Stowe apart is the depth of resource behind every case and our focus on resolving matters constructively wherever possible. With in-house forensic accountancy support and specialist financial expertise, we can investigate complex or concealed assets thoroughly and present clear, well-evidenced figures on your behalf.

Key High Net Worth Divorce Information

What services do we offer for high net worth individuals?

High net worth divorces are often complex cases that require expert legal knowledge and specialist services, both of which Stowe Family Law provide. Alongside our skilled family lawyers, we have an extensive network of professionals, from property valuators and pension experts to IFAs and wealth management experts available to collaberate on cases.

What is considered a high net worth divorce?

High net worths are usually defined as individuals with liquid assets of £1million or more. From CEOs to athletes and celebrities, Stowe Family Law has worked with a myriad of high net worth clients, but we also work with clients across the financial spectrum. If you’re not sure if our high net worth divorce services are right for you, get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Related services

Financial settlement solicitors

With high net worth divorces typically involving assets exceeding £1 million, it is essential to have an expert financial settlement solicitor to guide you through the process. We can help with dividing and valuing complex portfolios of assets, such as businesses, offshore wealth, pensions and property. We help ensure you get a fair settlement when it comes to signing the Consent Order.

Divorce financial settlement solicitors
Finance Solicitors - Stowe Family Law

Divorce accountants

Our divorce accountants are financial professionals who specialise in investigating and analysing complex finances during divorce. Our solicitors are experts in identifying hidden assets and giving accurate valuations of businesses or pensions. This service is essential for high net worth divorces with complex asset portfolios to ensure you get a fair settlement by determining a clear financial picture.

Divorce accountants
consultation on divorce finances

Freezing order solicitors

Our freezing order solicitors help you prevent a spouse from moving, hiding, or liquidating assets in order to manipulate financial claims. With high net worth divorces, this can be an essential service as asset portfolios are large and complex, making the risk of asset manipulation high. We help ensure you get the settlement you deserve

Freezing order solicitors
Man writing in work area

Child arrangement orders

Child arrangement orders are a legal order that dictates where any of your children will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. If you and your ex-partner have had children during the duration of your marriage, you will need the guidance of a child arrangements order specialist. It can become complicated in high net worth divorces as cross border custody or lifestyle maintenance can become hurdles. We ensure you get the best outcome for you and your children.

Child arrangement order solicitors
what is a child arrangements order?

Spousal maintenance

Spousal maintenance (or support) is regular financial support paid by one ex-spouse to the other following divorce. As it aims to address any financial imbalances between spouses, it is especially difficult with diverse financial portfolios in high net worth divorces. With complex assets and income structures, you will need expert support to properly value wealth. The courts will take into account lifestyles established in the marriage when calculating maintenance payments. Our expert solicitors help guide you through these issues clearly.

Spousal support lawyers
Clean break or spousal maintenance

Child maintenance

Child maintenance is regular financial support paid by the parent who does not live with the child to the parent who has day to day responsibility for the child. In high net worth divorces, payments can exceed the Child Maintenance Services caps with ‘top up’ orders to help cover things such as private school fees and living expenses. With our expert solicitors, we can help value a family’s true wealth and represent you in court over any top up orders to get a fair outcome for you.

Child maintenance solicitors

Arbitration

Our arbitration services offer a private, out of court process where you and your spouse use an independent, qualified professional to resolve any disputes you have and make a final legally binding agreement. These disputes can range from finances, property, or child arrangements and can be resolved quicker than in court. The privacy of this is favourable for high net worth divorces as it keeps business and personal details away from public records. We can help you appoint one of our trained arbitrators and settle your divorce quickly and privately.

Arbitration lawyers
Arbitration
The realities of high net worth divorce

What is a high net worth divorce?

A high net worth divorce is one involving assets or income of significant value or complexity. It is often the complexity, as much as the total value, that defines the legal challenge.

As a working threshold, individuals with liquid assets of £1 million or more are typically described as high net worth. A divorce may carry high net worth characteristics where combined assets exceed that level, where income or earning potential is substantial, or where the nature of the assets introduces complications that a standard financial settlement would not adequately address.

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Which assets are considered in a high net worth divorce?

Typically, high net worth cases commonly involve one or more of the following:

  • Business interests

    Shareholdings, partnerships, and owner-managed businesses require specialist valuation, particularly where income and capital are intertwined, or where one spouse holds a controlling stake

  • Property portfolios

    Multiple properties, both domestic and international, raise questions of valuation, liquidity, and how rental income is treated within the overall financial picture

  • Trusts and inherited wealth

    Assets held within trusts, or wealth received by way of inheritance, require careful analysis of whether they form part of the matrimonial pool and to what extent they should be shared

  • Pensions

    High-value pension arrangements (including defined benefit schemes and self-invested personal pensions) often represent the most significant single asset in a marriage and require actuarial input to value accurately

  • Offshore assets and international elements

    Where assets are held abroad, or where one or both parties have connections to other jurisdictions, additional legal and financial expertise is required to trace, value, and enforce any settlement effectively

  • Corporate structures

    Complex ownership arrangements – including holding companies, family investment companies, or assets held through corporate vehicles – may obscure the true value available for division

  • Lifestyle and non-matrimonial wealth

    Where one party has significantly higher earning potential, or where substantial assets predate the marriage, arguments around sharing and needs become more nuanced

Divorce Calculator: Understand what you may be entitled to in just 5 minutes. Use the calculator

Notable high net worth divorce case experience

  • A prenuptial agreement for a high-profile business person where the other party’s assets are valued at £100 million across multiple jurisdictions. 
  • International enforcement of orders made under Part III after a divorce in Russia with assets of £120 million+
  • A prenuptial agreement where the other party was a beneficiary of a family trust worth £350million.
  • A financial remedy case involving £3 million across multiple jurisdictions.
  • A £17million divorce case involving property in Brazil, Belgium, Togo, Sweden, offshore accounts and international business.

We have over 90 offices across the UK with locations including LondonSheffieldManchesterBirminghamLiverpoolReadingNottinghamNewcastleYorkLeicesterOxford and Bristol so wherever you’re located, we’re here to help.

The divorce process

Application

One or both spouses submit a divorce application to the court using the HMCTS Portal, citing irretrievable breakdown of the marriage without assigning blame.
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20-week reflection period

After the application is filed, and your former spouse has responded to the petition, a mandatory 20-week reflection period begins. During this time, spouses may also exchange financial information using Form E and address any necessary child arrangements, including including the time your children spend with you both.

Conditional order

After the reflection period, the applicant(s) apply for a Conditional order (previously known as Decree Nisi). The court reviews the case and, if satisfied, grants the order.
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6-week waiting period

Following the Conditional order, there is a mandatory 6-week waiting period before the final step can be taken.

Final order

After the 6-week waiting period, the applicant(s) may apply for the Final Order (previously known as Decree Absolute), officially ending the marriage.
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Average 9-12 months

If more than 12 months have elapsed between obtaining your conditional order and applying for your final order, you will have to submit a short statement to support your application, explaining the delay.

Meet our expert high net worth divorce solicitors

Get expert advice and support tailored to your situation from our experienced legal team.

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With over 90 offices nationwide, we're always within reach

We offer an award-winning service

Divorces involving high net worth individuals require careful handling of intricate financial matters. We specialise in navigating these complexities, ensuring a fair and comprehensive settlement that protects our clients’ significant assets.

Common questions on high net worth divorces

Common questions on high net worth divorces

Emma Newman is Managing Partner for Stowe Family Law across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, overseeing teams in offices including Brighton, Esher, Guildford and Tunbridge Wells, alongside the wider regional office network. Recognised by both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, Emma is an experienced family lawyer specialising in complex financial matters, particularly cases involving businesses, trusts and high-net-worth individuals.

Date last reviewed: 23/07/2026

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