Online Divorce - Financial Settlement | Howells Solicitors
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Online Divorce – Financial Settlement

Online Divorce Solicitors based in Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham delivering advice in London and Nationwide

If you’ve completed your divorce application online, the next crucial step is to formally deal with the financial affairs of your marriage. Many people believe that a divorce automatically resolves financial matters, but this is a common misconception. An online divorce only finalises the paperwork to legally end your marriage – it does not address your financial settlement.

 

To protect your financial future, it is essential to ensure that any financial agreement you reach with your ex-spouse is legally binding. Without this, your former partner could make future financial claims against you, even years after your divorce. A solicitor can draft a Consent Order or legally binding settlement to guarantee that all financial ties are severed.

 

We also offer a free initial 30-minute consultation by telephone, video call, or in person. Our services are affordable and transparent, without compromising on quality, giving you the reassurance that your future is protected.

How Our Online Divorce Solicitors Can Help With

Negotiating a fair financial settlement can be difficult, stressful, and emotionally challenging. Trying to navigate these issues without professional assistance can leave you in a vulnerable position and you could end up not receiving what you are entitled to.

Our family law team can help you protect:

  • Rights to property
  • Savings
  • Shares
  • Pensions
  • International assets
  • Liabilities for debts
  • Financial security for children – along with any maintenance payments, school fees etc.

There are a number of ways our divorce team can support you through a financial settlement agreement, including:

  • Negotiations
  • Support through Mediation
  • Advice in the background
  • Assistance with Court Proceedings
  • Collaborative law

Our solicitors are accredited by Resolution,, The Law Society, Legal 500, and Chambers and Partners, reflecting our proven expertise. With a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Review Solicitors, we are proud of our outstanding client feedback and results.

 

What is an Online Divorce?

After the introduction of no fault divorce on 6th April 2022, the government launched a new digital online service for those wanting to divorce. The entire online divorce process is the same as an ‘ordinary’ or ‘paper’ divorce and still requires you to provide original or certified documents and correct drafting of the paperwork in order to allow the divorce to proceed.

However, embarking upon the online process of divorce will only deal with the divorce paperwork and you will still need to deal with the financial aspects of your previous relationship.

 

Using an online divorce service

Some companies offer divorce or dissolution services online. These packages vary in price and offer different levels of help. It’s always worth checking what’s included. Most will simply help you with the divorce or dissolution paperwork – but not with reaching a financial settlement.

Contact us or call us on 0114 2235 807 to book your free consultation today.

Why must you deal with the finances after a divorce?

In most marriages, there will be assets accumulated over time that will need to be divided between the two parties when they divorce. These can include anything from the former matrimonial home to cash in the bank, insurance policies, pensions, and other valuable assets such as cars and jewelry.

If a formal arrangement is not made regarding the finances from the marriage, this could lead to complications. Particularly if your ex-spouse tries to make a financial claim against you in the future. It is especially important if:

  • You own a house.
  • You own a business.
  • One of you depends financially on the other.
  • One of you doesn’t agree to the divorce or dissolution.
  • You have children who still depend on you financially.
  • You’ve been married or in a civil partnership for more than five years.
  • One of you has a medical problem or disability that affects your ability to earn an income.
  • One of you has given up work to bring up your children, which affects your ability to earn an income.
  • One of you has more assets than the other – for example, the house is in one person’s name, or one of you has built up a much bigger pension than the other.

Contact us or call us on 0114 2235 807 to book your free appointment today.

Our promise to you

Divorce and separation does not have to be complicated or costly. If you are thinking about separating, or even getting divorced, we offer advice through a range of affordable fixed fees or competitive hourly rate services to give you the advice and support you need at a price you can afford.

The Howells Solicitors promise to you:

No surprises: We will provide a written estimate of costs at the outset of any case and keep you regularly informed of your costs position throughout.

No legal jargon. We will take time to understand your needs and provide clear explanations, so you completely understand what’s going on every step of the way.

Minimise stress. The breakdown of a relationship is invariably one of the most difficult situations anyone can encounter. We will help you reach the best possible outcome for you and your family with the least possible distress. We understand the importance of seeking to find amicable solutions to the issues that need to be resolved during the divorce or separation process. However, we will always have your best interests at the forefront or our actions, and we will strive to get you the best outcome possible.

Fair pricing. We always do our best to minimise cost where possible. Our fixed fees and transparent costings mean you know how much your legal work will cost. Our hourly rates are some of the most competitive across England and Wales.

Online Divorce Frequently Asked Questions

How is Financial Settlement Calculated in a Divorce?

The court will look at how parties’ assets can be divided in the fairest way, taking into account each party’s needs and those of the children and considering the factors listed above.

How Long Does it Take for a Financial Settlement in Divorce?

Typically, a divorce settlement will take between 9 and 12 months.  If a financial application is made to the court this could be longer, depending on when the application is made

How is Property Divided?

There is no straightforward answer to determining what happens to a shared property after divorce. The judge will consider a range of factors, and the most important one is usually each party’s housing need and their ability to meet it and where the children will reside. Every case will depend on its individual circumstances.

What Should I Ask for in a Financial Settlement?

It is essential to obtain specialist legal advice from a lawyer who has experience in dealing with financial settlements on divorce and who can guide you through the process, be it providing advice on making an agreement you may have reached directly with your spouse already legally binding, or advice regarding the financial settlement you should be looking to achieve.

 

Our Family Law Team

Our Family Law team represent clients in:

– Sheffield

– Barnsley

– Rotherham

– Other South Yorkshire areas

– London and surrounding areas

– Nationwide (throughout England)

The team also offer a free 30-minute consultation on your first visit, which can be made face-to-face, on the phone or virtually.

Contact us or call us on 0114 2235 807 to book your free consultation today.

 

Our Family Law Fees

Our family law team offer transparent and affordable prices to suit all financial circumstances. You will always be kept up to date with costs and they offer fixed fees for most areas, so you are always in full control.

Find a full list of our fees here.

 

Flexible Family Law Appointments

We understand that dealing with family law matters can be stressful, and finding time to attend in-person appointments isn’t always easy. That’s why we offer our full range of family law services remotely, offering a more efficient and convenient service.

We are able to offer advice nationwide on that basis, which can often work out to be cheaper and more convenient, frequently providing representation to family law clients around the whole country.

We can offer our family law legal support via telephone or secure online meetings. This approach allows you to access expert legal advice from the comfort of your home, without the need to travel or rearrange your schedule. I

If your case requires a court hearing, many such procedural matters are now handled remotely too, or if in person we can arrange representation by a suitable local barrister, ensuring your legal journey is as smooth and accessible as possible.

Our remote services are designed to be just as personal and confidential as in-person consultations, with clear communication and full transparency every step of the way.

Remote appointments are offered throughout the case, and most correspondence is handled by email. Whether you’re dealing with sensitive family matters or simply seeking guidance, we ensure a smooth, stress-free experience that puts your needs first.

If you do wish to meet us face to face, you can book an appointment at one of our offices in Sheffield, Barnsley or Rotherham. While remote services offer convenience, they may not be suitable for those with limited digital literacy or access or where safeguarding is critical.

Contact us or call us on 0114 2235 807 to speak to a family law expert or book an appointment today.

 

Free Consultation

The family law team offer a free 30-minute consultation on your first appointment, which can be made face-to-face, on the phone or by video call, as well as flexible appointments that can be arranged to fit around lunch breaks or work commitments. Contact us on 0114 2235 807 to make an appointment.

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How can we help? Contact us today

Contact us on 0114 2235 807 and one of our advisors will be in touch to discuss your situation. We will take some initial information and if we can help, we will book you in for a consultation with a legal professional.

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Solicitors for Divorce

The Howells family law solicitors are one of the largest family law teams in the region, probably the UK. they specialise in a wide range of family law services, including divorcefinancial settlementschild custody arrangementscollaborative law, care proceedings, adoption, guardianship, child abduction and domestic abuse, to name a few areas.

 

The family team have an exceptional reputation for dealing with a vast range of cases, from high-net-worth finances to complex cases involving children. The team also have extensive experience of representing clients at court, including parents, grandparents, guardians, and children.

 

The team covers the entirety of South Yorkshire and the UK, with offices in Sheffield, Barnsley, and Rotherham. However they also regularly take instruction from clients from across the UK, including regular instruction from clients in London and the surrounding areas.

 

The team rank number 2 in Sheffield, and number 1 in Rotherham and Barnsley on Review Solicitors with an average ranking of 4.9 out of 5 stars in reviews received and 99% of former clients confirm they would recommend the firm, which is a testament to the quality of advice they provide and their exceptional client care. The team are often praised for their professionalism, compassion, empathy, and kindness.

 

The team are supervised by our family law solicitor and director John Clegg. John is a family law specialist and covers all aspects of family law including divorce, civil partnership and cohabitation breakdown, financial matters arising on separation and divorce, pre and post-nuptial agreements and protection from domestic abuse. John is also accredited as one of the top solicitors in the UK by the prestigious Chambers and Partners.

 

The matrimonial team are supervised by senior divorce solicitor and director Sharon Lockwood, who is a highly regarded in Rotherham and the rest of South Yorkshire. Sharon is a specialist in complex cases involving children and high value assets. Sharon is also very active in the local community of South Yorkshire and receives a high amount of praise from her clients and colleagues and has established herself as one of the most distinguish divorce specialists in the region.

Client Feedback

The team rank number 2 in Sheffield, and number 1 in Rotherham and Barnsley on Review Solicitors with an average ranking of 4.9 out of 5 stars in reviews received and 99% of former clients confirm they would recommend the firm, which is a testament to the quality of advice they provide and their exceptional client care. The team are often praised for their professionalism, compassion, empathy, and kindness.

“Thank you so much for all you have done. I cannot speak highly enough of you & everyone I have met at Howells. I have already recommended Howells & yourself to the specialist teams I am now in contact with & will continue to do so.”

“Many thanks again for your invaluable help, advice and your calm, approachable manner. It is very much appreciated!”

“Howells provided a great service and worked quickly and efficiently to get the job completed to try to keep my costs down too. I would recommend Sharon and the team.”

“Excellent service with prompt response time.”

“I used Sharon Lockwood in my extremely messy and prolonged divorce case, and I cannot thank her enough. She was kind and caring at times when I was very distressed and at the same time both efficient and professional.”

“Sharon was exceptional from our first telephone call and throughout this process. Professional, supportive, knowledgeable, and very clear.”

“Sharon has been a rock she explains everything every step of the way she has gotten me through a very tough year, and I will be for ever grateful to her.”

“I chose to sort my divorce and financial settlement with Sharon Lockwood at Howells solicitors after seeing other reviews. I was not disappointed in any way, shape, or form. She is very professional and quick off the ball. I would highly recommend Sharon and her colleagues at Howells for a fast and very efficient service and would use again if needed.”

Legal 500 Ranking

2018 – Tier 3 – “The Howells family team works across Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley, with Alyson Siddall focusing on high-value financial work, and co-leading the team alongside Sharon Lockwood, whose expertise lies in matters involving tax elements and inherited assets, and John Clegg, who brings extensive experience regarding complex cases involving children. The team undertakes a wide range of family work, with notable expertise in working on complex domestic abuse and care cases.”

2021 – Tier 2 – “Howells fields a substantial family team, which also features eight Children Panel members and five Resolution accredited panel members. Practice head Alyson Siddall is a key name for high-value financial work, advising clients in high-net-worth cases involving significant assets and pensions. John Clegg is particularly well known and respected for children and finance work. He is one of a handful of solicitors in the city who still does finance legal aid work.”

2022 – Tier 1 Ranking – “The team are particularly well known for high-net-worth cases. In addition, the practice has a strong regional reputation.”

2023 – Tier 2 Ranking – “The team undertakes a wide range of family work, with notable expertise in working on complex domestic abuse and care cases.”

Professional Feedback

“A go to for complex children matters. Is thorough and deals with cases with a level of detail and knowledge that are truly impressive.  Has the detail of every aspect of the case at her fingertips. She is also sensitive and compassionate in her approach to clients, but quite capable of delivering difficult and realistic advice.”

“Sharon Lockwood is dedicated to seeking very practical solutions to financial cases. Tenacious but also very realistic at the same time”

“Alyson Siddall is a pleasure to deal with and is very knowledgeable and competent. She also has a very calm manner, which I am sure is appreciated by clients and other professionals alike.”

“An effective and tenacious advocate known for his thorough, sensible and constructive approach. Has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of financial and children cases and the safest pair of hands no matter how difficult the case.”

“Excellent Collaborative lawyer and a leading family solicitor in Sheffield. Experienced, dedicated and knowledgeable.”

“Thorough in preparation, experienced, excellent with clients, willing to go above and beyond and a strong presence in the courtroom.”

John Clegg

Family Law

0114 249 6795
Sharon Lockwood

Family Law

01709 364000
Colin Musgrave

Family Law

0114 249 6709
Wendy Bailey

Family Law

01226 805 190
Laura Hill

Family Law

0114 249 6638
Danielle Mahyar

Family Law

01226 805 190
Ramandeep Kaur

Family Law

0114 249 6703
Caroline Euinton

Family Law

0114 249 6643
Michaela Logue

Family Law

0114 2496666
Ben Thompson

Family Law

0114 2496666
Alexandria Broadley

Family Law

0114 2496 640
Louise Ellis

Family Law

01709 364 000
Cody Minshall

Family Law

0114 249 6656