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Your local forensic accountant team
Unpicking complicated assets needs an expert. If you believe your ex is hiding assets or stalling with information, their business or property valuations seem low, or their declared income does not match their lifestyle, our in-house forensic accountants can help.
read moreThis dedicated team works alongside our lawyers, ensuring that we can quickly provide accurate advice and insight without waiting for the work to be outsourced.
Our forensic accountants have deep expertise within this highly specialist field and are on hand as part of your divorce team if and when you need them. We have offices in major cities and towns across England and Wales, so you’ll find support from our specialist teams wherever you are.
Key divorce finances information
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What is a prenuptial agreement? |
Also known as ‘prenups’, prenuptial agreements are written contracts that couples can enter before marriage or civil union. The prenup outlines ownership of money, assets, or property and what will happen to them in the case of divorce or dissolution. |
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How does spousal maintenance work? |
Different to child maintenance, spousal maintenance is a payment from one former spouse to another after divorce. The amount can change at any time and should be decided based on financial needs and income. A divorce lawyer can help you come to an agreement on how much spousal maintenance should be paid out of court. |
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What is a freezing order? |
Commonly used in divorce or dissolution cases, freezing orders prevent one spouse from disposing of assets until a case is resolved. This protects the other part from missing out on assets they may have matrimonial claim over. |
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Why choose the support of a forensic accountant?
Going through a divorce can be a challenging time for any family but even more so if you have reason to think your spouse has not been honest about any financial aspect of the marriage. All finances must be declared to ensure a fair settlement and it’s illegal for one party to hide certain elements of their assets.
read moreWorking with a forensic accounting firm, you will get a true picture and accurate value of the finances and assets of the marriage and the discovery of any hidden assets and undervaluation’s if needed.
Most importantly, you can be reassured that you will get a fair financial settlement based on its true value.
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Who decides how assets are split during a divorce?
If a couple can’t amicably decide how to divide up their assets, then the Court will order a settlement that’s deemed fair to both parties. Multiple factors will be taken into consideration including any dependent children, the family’s income, financial needs and responsibilities and the standard of living during the marriage.
read moreEvery divorce is different and circumstances are unique to the particular couple so there’s no specific law that states how exactly assets should be divided upon separation.
Full and frank disclosure is essential to reaching a fair settlement. Being open about your finances and allowing scrutiny where necessary increases trust and makes a mutually-beneficial, quicker and cheaper settlement easier to reach.
Why choose Stowe Family Law?
As the only national law firm fully dedicated to family matters, our expert team offers professional advice so you can make a fully informed decision about your divorce.
We are proud to be rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot. Check out our reviews to see what our previous clients have said about our service.
We feature in The Legal 500 rankings and are fully authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
We keep you informed. Take a look at our support section, which features a range of helpful guides, focusing on important topics including finances and mediation.
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Let's ask Ms T
May I take this opportunity to personally thank you for your support at this difficult time. I very much appreciated your flexibility and responsiveness to such tight turnaround times. I received a thorough, professional yet compassionate service.Let's ask Legal 500
Claire Cleary provides specialist advice in complex and high net worth cases. Calm, focused and unflappable.Let's ask Legal 500
Having trained as a barrister, Sebastian Burrows is able to conduct his own advocacy and does so very successfully and persuasively. Seb has built up a strong reputation in matrimonial finance matters, particularly when it comes to dividing pensions, litigating city bonuses and achieving top-class results in dividing property portfolios. His case a… Read morenalysis is clear and his instructions succinct and to the point. His natural affable charm is the icing on the cake of his considerable legal and practical knowledge. He is very able – a gifted litigator and strategist.Let's ask Mr H
Having recently completed Financial Remedy proceedings through Stowe Family Law, I have no hesitation in recommending Jennifer Reddy. Jennifer made the potentially unwieldy legal process considerably less difficult. Her helpful and professional advice meant that I always had a clear understanding of the options available to me, and her support in p… Read morereparing for my hearing allowed me to feel confident when I went into court. Thanks to Jennifer’s knowledge and guidance, the outcome of my case was far better than I had ever thought possible.Let's ask Mr C
Stowe Family Law provided professional support and direction during a difficult and contentious divorce proceeding, involving court settlements for financial and child custody elements. Despite demanding court deadlines and some challenges associated with exchanges between solicitors, Kate (and the Stowe Family Law team) was always able to meet dea… Read moredlines and even contacted me outside of normal working hours when swift communication and action was required. I found Kate’s review and crafting of legal documents to be very helpful. Kate was able to recommend and co-ordinate with a very competent barrister to represent me during the court appearances and supported those interactions herself during those times. Although going through a divorce can be an incredibly sad and harrowing time, the legal services that were afforded by Kate did aid in making me feel supported and professionally guided during the overall process.Let's ask Legal 500
Stowe Family Law is a well-regarded national firm with a strong regional presence in and around Birmingham, providing high quality advice and representation in complex and high value financial remedy cases’.Let's ask Mrs F
When experiencing maintenance issues after my divorce Shanika Varga helped me in resolving these issues. She provided a very clear explanation of how to go forward and was very efficient in the whole process of dealing with the situation which brought me to an agreeable result. Shanika was very approachable, kind and caring and I would recommend he… Read morer to others.Common questions on forensic accounting
Common questions on forensic accounting
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What financial aspects can be investigated by forensic accountants?
Various financial records and assets can be uncovered by our forensic accounting team. These might include family bank accounts, business interests, property, pensions and other assets, including cryptocurrencies. Forensic divorce accountants seek to uncover any discrepancies over financial assets and provide a clear picture of a family’s income and assets, to ensure a fair settlement.
Forensic accountants are often instructed in divorce proceedings where one party has more financial control than the other. For example, one spouse might have been in charge of the family’s finances, dealing with income, outgoings and all other financial assets. In cases like this, it’s important to gain transparency to be able to settle a divorce in the fairest possible way
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How does a forensic accountant uncover financial discrepancies?
A forensic divorce accountant uses skills such as auditing, investigating and financial management to provide a clear report of a family’s assets. This could involve analysing bank accounts, reports, transactions, spending habits, tax records and tracing any hidden assets. The financial investigation involved in such cases is thorough and often complex.
Due to the complexities of such investigations, it’s advisable to seek support as early as possible to ensure the best possible outcome from the divorce.
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Can forensic accountants be used during the separation of cohabiting couples?
Cohabiting is becoming increasingly common, with the amount of cohabiting couples having risen significantly since 2011, especially across younger age groups. But cohabiting couples do not have the same legal rights as those who are married; for example, the right to inherit a partner’s assets, pension or property.
There is no law that provides guidance on financial matters should a couple in this situation separate, so forensic divorce accountants would not be called upon by a cohabiting partner.
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Can a spouse be prevented from hiding or selling assets during a divorce?
If a marriage ends in hostile or disharmonious circumstances, then one spouse could try to prevent the other party from gaining access to certain assets. This can be the case especially in high-net-worth divorce situations. A spouse might try to sell off assets, hide particular finances or spend a large proportion of funds to reduce what their ex-partner might be entitled to.
In these situations, a forensic accountant can work to uncover any hidden assets or unusual expenditure. In some circumstances, a freezing order might be granted by the Court to protect any relevant assets and ensure that they can’t be sold or given away.
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How much does it cost for forensic accounting services?
Because the investigative work carried out by our forensic divorce accounting team varies depending on each unique situation, there is no one set cost. Our forensic accountants will discuss your options and circumstances with you and provide an estimate of likely costs, depending on the work involved to ensure transparency.
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