I want to apply to vary my court order because my partner has inherited some money. Can I do this?

If your former partner’s inheritance was reasonably foreseeable when the financial order was made, it is possible that the court may already have taken this into account.

If your former partner failed to disclose an anticipated inheritance during the financial disclosure process, you may wish to seek legal advice about whether there are grounds to challenge the original financial order.

Similarly, if your former partner received an inheritance shortly after the financial order was made and this was not reasonably foreseeable at the time, you may wish to take legal advice on whether this could affect the existing financial arrangements.

If you are struggling financially under the current arrangements, you may also be able to seek advice about whether any ongoing spousal maintenance or child maintenance arrangements should be reviewed. Before making an application to court, it is often sensible to try to negotiate matters with your former partner or their solicitors to see whether an agreement can be reached.

If you are in this situation, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible so that you can understand your options.