Divorce – Adapting your plans around one of life’s big changes
Andrew Tricker, 17 August 2026
Andrew Tricker, 17 August 2026
Divorce is one of the most financially significant events most people go through and for those with substantial or complex wealth, the stakes are higher still.
Business interests, trusts, multiple properties and international assets all add layers of complexity that make early, specialist advice essential.
If you are concerned about the potential of divorce or are recently divorced, then you need to consider the following.
Pensions are frequently the largest single asset in a marriage, sometimes larger than the family home, yet research from Age UK has found that 71 per cent of divorcing couples do not discuss their pensions during proceedings.
There are three main ways to divide pension wealth:
A pension sharing order, which creates a fresh, independent pension pot for the receiving spouse, is generally the cleanest and most common route, though it typically takes nine to eighteen months to implement in full.
It is important that you discuss the best approach with the support of an independent financial adviser and the solicitor representing you to ensure the order meets your needs.
Every divorce requires full and frank financial disclosure through a Form E, covering assets, income, liabilities and pensions.
In higher net worth cases, this disclosure often extends to corporate accounts, trust documentation, international property and complex remuneration structures and can take considerably longer to unpick than a straightforward case.
If you have a significant shareholding in a business, it is important to have your shares valued accurately by an expert to ensure that your disclosure is accurate.
Divorce may not require you to sell your business, sometimes, if your partner is capable and you are able to work together, it may require you to transfer shares or you may decide to offer cash or other assets in lieu of the value of the shares given after the financial remedy order.
Most people don’t consider the tax implications of divorce, but if you are transferring or selling assets as part of your separation, this can generate an unexpected tax bill, so it is important to have a trusted financial adviser by your side throughout the process.
Once you have separated and a financial settlement is reached, it is important that you review your current plans to ensure they reflect your wishes.
Separation can be traumatic and a real turning point in a person’s life. We find that the best outcomes tend to come from close coordination between a family solicitor and a financial planner throughout proceedings, not only once a settlement has been reached.
This ensures any agreement is structured in a way that is both tax efficient and sustainable for the years ahead.
If you are going through or anticipating a divorce and would like support in protecting and rebuilding your financial position, please contact our team at Lubbock Fine Wealth Management.
The information included in this article may be subject to changes in taxation following its publication. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. Lubbock Fine Wealth Management does not provide legal advice.
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