Divorce and separation - financial matters

• Q1. Does the reason for the divorce make any difference to how the financial settlement is worked out?
• Q2. When do we need to agree a financial settlement?
• Q3. Will any payments I make to my spouse while we are separated affect the final settlement?
• Q4. Will it make any difference if I move out of the family home before we are divorced?
• Q5. Are there any precautions I should take, for example to stop my spouse taking cash from our joint account?
• Q6. How much maintenance is a spouse entitled to?
• Q7. How can I protect my maintenance payments in case my ex-spouse dies?
• Q8. Can a man claim maintenance from his ex-wife?
• Q9. What happens if my spouse refuses to pay maintenance?
• Q10. What happens if one of us remarries or starts cohabiting with a new partner?
• Q11. How much maintenance do I need to provide for the children?
• Q12. Do I need to provide maintenance for children if I am not their father?
• Q13. Can I settle any financial claims once and for all when we divorce?
• Q14. Can we negotiate a settlement without using lawyers or going to court?
• Q15. How long will it take to sort everything out?
• Q16. Who pays the legal fees?
• Q17. Do we have to go to court to get the settlement approved?
• Q18. Can I be forced to give up the home?
• Q19. Can business assets be included in a financial settlement?
• Q20. How are any assets held overseas treated?