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We represent high net worth individuals and understand the level of expertise and discretion this requires.
Divorce is difficult. We’re here to help you untangle the knots.
Our family law solicitors offer a range of legal services dealing with children’s matters.
We help make the financial side of getting a divorce as simple as possible, whilst retaining what you deserve.
Our international divorce lawyers regularly advise on cases involving complex international aspects.
The breakdown of a relationship can often be a difficult and emotional time. Our separation and divorce lawyers support and offer advice on pre-civil partnership agreements, post-civil partnership agreements, civil partnership dissolution, and finances when a civil partnership ends.
Our family law solicitors are experienced in providing support for families experiencing difficult changes in their lives, including breakdowns in relationships and changes to family life.
At Austin Kemp, we’re here to help. Find out more about the divorce process, and other key information with our vast resource section.
Our industry-first Divorce Report combines numerous data sources and internal research, to bring you this specialist report.
Our expert divorce lawyers have listed questions which are commonly asked by our clients, to which we have provided an answer.
Our legal videos break down the complexity and jargon within our profession.
Our Legal Brochures detail the process for each area of Family Law. Download your brochure and learn more about what is involved in this complicated legal topic.
Our Legal Experts have written insights to help you navigate divorce and family law.
Thoroughly excellent service provided via Wikivorce. Was slightly apprehensive of how it would all work, especially at a distance. However, they were swift, efficient, immensely polite, accurate, and gave regular updates. I would recommend them to anyone.
Can't fault my experience in any way. Brilliant advice / available at short notice for any questions and most importantly swiftly achieved the desired result. Found Austin Kemp after feeling HCB Solicitors were not acting in my best interests and I was correct on all fronts - even including having an appreciation for the fact Divorce is already emotional situation. Also, rather than have to query every suggested next step and be charged for the pleasure; As I'd done a little research of my own and was able to challenge their advice - however we pay Solicitors for their expertise and need to put our trust in them. Austin Kemp thankfully achieved that for me during our first conversation I was already reassured they understood what I wanted and how best to achieve it. Resulting in 7-8 months less work and no court appearances as I had been previously advised by HCB. I THANK YOU DEARLY AUSTIN KEMP. I can start my life again earlier and with a healthier bank balance because of you!!!
Amazing service. For the first time in nearly two years I feel less in a spiral and more in control.
Thoroughly professional, straightforward, timely and reasonably priced. I would recommend this firm to anyone. Thank you Emma and Austen Kemp for a great service.
Thank you so much. You were great. I wasted so much time and money with my previous solicitors and only regret I did not contact you earlier. I have dropped a line to Paul to thank him for referring me to you. I hope you enjoyed the red I sent you as a token of our appreciation.
Austin Kemp provides a pragmatic and honest approach to the individual's journey through Family Law issues. They demonstrate a willingness and capacity to respond to challenging and unpredictable circumstances. The professional, yet personal, service is naturally client centred, but with a realistic and informed view of children's needs. And it has been heartening to have such a caring team walk beside me in the long journey.
I cannot recommend highly enough Austin Kemp as a strong, commercially intelligent and the most effective negotiators. Their negotiation skills are second to none. I have seen firsthand the excellent results this team achieves for their clients.
Just want to say thanks so much for everything. You have been brilliant and very patient. I always felt comfortable calling when asking to clarify certain points of the divorce.
I can honestly say that I am more than satisfied with the management of my case and of my then state of mind. I highly recommend this firm. Thank you.
Amandeep Kooner was not prepared to be swayed from a path of professionalism to accommodate my anxiety and frustration. He would not succumb to taking instructions tit for tat response. He ensured at all times that the response he gave reflected a dignified client with a pleasant demeanour. In so doing he demonstrated his commitment to protect and secure my interests and dignity off which I am most grateful.
Although he has a dual approached role which is business and a duty of care, Amandeep Kooner showed concerns for the level of expenditure that I had already put out with no resolve. His team contained the work to the minimum and produced the maximum results. My case was quickly progressed without compromising compassion and understanding.
Very professional service! Explained everything they were doing for my case every step of the way and really helped me to understand how we would proceed. Thank you!
Intellectually bright, hardworking and extremely professional - Amandeep Kooner took my case at it most difficult as I had come to the end of my ability to remain calm and patient. Up until I instructed Austin Kemp, I had lost all hope that any solicitor could convince me in pursuing a non-retaliatory approach as I was losing ground to allegations and fabrications. Tough, hardworking and extremely professional.
While the end of any relationship can be difficult, the thought of having to deal with a divorce at the end of a marriage can be daunting.In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the divorce process and dispel some divorce myths, so you’ll know what to expect.
First of all, you or your spouse will need to fill out a divorce petition. The person who petitions for divorce is known as the applicant (also called the ‘petitioner’).
In England and Wales, you will need to prove that your marriage has irretrievably broken down by giving one of five reasons:
You can either fill out the necessary forms yourself or get a solicitor to do it for you. Alternatively, there are online divorce companies who complete divorce petitions.
Completing the forms yourself is the low-cost option. However, having an experienced solicitor to advise you throughout the divorce process, can help you to ensure that no errors are made (which could waste time) and make sure that you do not lose out when it comes to the financial settlement.
Whichever way you choose to go, there is a court fee of £550 (some people may be able to get help with this).
When the divorce petition has been lodged correctly and your spouse has received a copy and confirmed that they agree to the divorce, the next stage is the decree nisi. This is a necessary part of the divorce process but it does not mean that your divorce is final, only that, in principle, the courts don’t see any reason why your divorce cannot happen.
Once this has been granted, you will have to wait 6 weeks and 1 day before applying for the decree absolute. You are not divorced until you receive the decree absolute.
From start to finish, the divorce process normally takes around 6 to 8 months but can take much longer if, for example, there are complex assets involved. This is because it is normally advised that the financial settlement should be finalised before applying for the decree absolute. It is not unusual for financial issues to take much longer to resolve than the divorce process itself.
‘Solicitors just make matters worse’ – Solicitors are there to guide you through the process and help you to understand your rights. Good solicitors should be ready to negotiate your financial settlement using methods such as, for example, Collaborative Law and should only advise going to court when the circumstances warrant it.
‘A quickie divorce will save loads of money and time’ – Despite what may appear in the press, ‘quickie divorces’ do not exist. Indeed, when a celebrity seems to have divorced after such a short period of time, it is normally the decree nisi that the papers are talking about, not the final decree absolute.
Making the decision to get a divorce may be difficult, but the divorce process itself needn’t be daunting. With advice from an experienced family solicitor, you can start the divorce process prepared for what may lie ahead and can begin to plan for the future.
Earlier this month, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Mackenzie, announced that they were going to divorce after a 25-year marriage.
The news hit the headlines worldwide, following their announcement on Twitter, where they said they intended to continue their “shared lives as friends”.
But what does this mean for what is reportedly the world’s richest couple? And what could a divorce settlement on this scale look like?
What the financial settlement will look like when the couple divorce is not yet clear.
The couple will reportedly divorce in America. While American law is different to English and Welsh law, if the divorce were to take place in England, the starting point would be a 50:50 split.
If award-winning author Mackenzie were to receive half of the couple’s fortune, this could make her the world’s richest woman.
A prenuptial agreement sets out what a couple would like to happen to their assets if they divorce. This is signed before marriage.
According to TMZ, a source revealed that Jeff and Mackenzie may not have a prenup.
It’s worth pointing out here that the couple were married before Jeff started Amazon, so they may not have thought that a prenuptial agreement was necessary.
On the other hand, it may be possible that the couple could have entered a postnuptial agreement (similar to a prenup but entered into after marriage) at a later date.
News website Business Insider, says that almost all of Jeff Bezos’ net worth is in Amazon stock.
If this is the case, it could be that Mackenzie may end up with a sizeable stake in Amazon, as part of their divorce settlement.
Of course, this is only speculation. What the financial settlement will ultimately look like, will depend upon a variety of factors, including the local law. What’s more, the couple may never publicly reveal the details of their divorce settlement, so we may never know exactly what the settlement looks like.
It’s not unusual for high net worth individuals to have highly complicated finances. For example, there could be offshore interests or trusts set up for family members.
For this reason, high net worth individuals should seek advice from a solicitor with experience in this area.
The announcement read: “We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and deeply grateful for every one of the years we have been married to each other. If we had known we would separate after 25 years, we would do it all again.”
There’s no doubt that divorce can be extremely difficult. Jeff and Mackenzie Bezos may have a long road ahead of them.
At the moment, it seems that the divorce is amicable, which should make things easier for both them and their four children.
Our expert divorce solicitors can help you with a range of legal issues:
For more information on financial disclosure during divorce call our divorce solicitors on 0845 862 5001 or email mail@austinkemp.co.uk.
Our expert divorce solicitors offer a nationwide service. We have client meeting office facilities available, in order to have face-to-face client meetings / conferences as and when required in our:
Leeds Office: St Andrew House, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 5JW
Sheffield Office: Pinfold Street, The Balance, Sheffield, S1 2GU
Manchester Office: King Street, Manchester, M2 4PD
Wakefield Office: Market Walk, Wakefield, WF1 1QR
Canary Wharf Office: 25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5LB
London Office: 01 Nothumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5BW
Please contact us for more details.
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