Divorce, even if both parties have the best of intentions, has plenty of opportunities to become messy, complicated, and even acrimonious. One of the trickiest areas is likely to be around the family finances.
When a married couple splits up, major assets need to be divided fairly, but at the same time maintaining certain standards of living will also need to be taken into account. For example, if any children in the family are schooled privately then it will probably be expected that this should continue, if possible.
It is highly likely that both parties will be less well-off apart than they were together since maintaining two households is more expensive than one and couples need to be realistic about what their financial circumstances will be after a divorce.
A Realistic Financial Settlement
One of the ways to help you work out how to be fair is to look at the family budget. This will help you decide how much each party needs and what they can expect to get when the divorce has gone through.
If you can, work out the family budget together. It’s important to try and remember everything that you might spend over the course of a year. How much do you spend on the children’s haircuts and their sporting activities? Do you have a pet? All these things can quickly add up, as well as the more obvious expenses such as grocery bills and clothes. The needs of both parties need to be taken into account.
Some families may already keep track of their monthly spending using a computer program, which should provide a good starting point. If not, you will have to work out how much you are spending on the household and family. Looking back at old credit-card bills and bank statements can be a good way to get an idea of how much you have spent on such items.
When you write up your budget, be honest. A judge won’t look kindly on anyone who has exaggerated or lied about their spending to try and get a higher maintenance payment.
Remember that after divorce, when a household splits, it’s likely that two properties will have to be bought or rented and maintained, instead of one. This is obviously more expensive so it may not be possible to continue with the same number of foreign holidays as before, for example. Try to be reasonable when deciding what’s essential and what’s just “nice to have”.
UK Child Maintenance and Nursery and School Fees
When it comes specifically to UK child maintenance, there are generally set percentages used to work out how much should be paid. This will largely depend on how much the absent parent earns, any other children they may support and how much time the children spend with them.
With regard to school fees, the court would take into account factors such as whether the children are already in private education or if it was fully expected that they would go to a private school and the affordability of the fees. It does not necessarily mean that the parent without custody will shoulder the full bill for any fees as these could be shared by both parents.
Nursery fees or after-school care costs which may be vital to allow the parent with care to work may also be ordered on top of a Child Support Agency (CSA) assessment.
While it may be difficult if relations have broken down, try not to score points against each other using money, especially if it is connected to the welfare of your children.
See Also:
- Teaching Your Kids Money Management Skills
- 10 Ways To Teach Your Children About Money
- Budget Building in a Spending World
- Tips on Eating Right on a Limited Budget
- Five ways to reducing monthly bills in the UK
Resources:
- Â Raising Your Spirited Child Rev Ed: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic
- Parenting the Ephraim’s Child: Characteristics, Capabilities, and Challenges of Children Who Are Intensely More
- Putting Children First: Proven Parenting Strategies for Helping Children Thrive Through Divorce
- The Truth About Children and Divorce: Dealing with the Emotions So You and Your Children Can Thrive
- Kidz Calendar – UNDATED! A Fun Sticker Organizer for a Child’s Busy World (Start using this Kids Calendar any time of the year!)
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
