Enhancing outcomes through holistic, Resolution-aligned practice
The Resolution Code calls on us to help clients “understand and manage the potential long-term financial and emotional consequences of decisions.” How does this work in practice in my field? As a financial planner who has personally gone through a divorce, I know how overwhelming the process can be. I had one advantage: a career-long understanding of savings, investments, pensions and long-term financial modelling. I could make informed decisions with a clear head. But most people going through divorce don’t have that foundation. They’re trying to understand complex financial proposals at a time of enormous personal upheaval—often without a clear sense of what the numbers mean for their future.
Take this common scenario: your client is told the proposed settlement includes a mortgage-free house worth £800,000, a £300,000 pension share, a £200,000 lump sum, and spousal maintenance of £3,000 a month for five years. It may sound generous. But then ask some questions:
- can they stay in the house and still live comfortably?
- will they be able to support their children’s education or future housing needs?
- when can they realistically retire?
Many won’t know how to answer. And neither, often, does their legal team—because these are financial planning questions, not purely legal ones.
This is precisely where divorce-specialist financial planners can make a crucial difference.
Beyond implementation: a holistic approach
Family lawyers often bring in financial planners late in the process, typically to assist with pension sharing implementation or to create a basic post-settlement budget. While this is valuable, it misses a much larger opportunity for support.
Divorce-focused planners are not just technicians—we’re long-term strategists. We work with lawyers and clients to:
- translate financial settlements into real-life outcomes
- assess the long-term sustainability of proposed terms
- model multiple scenarios to aid in decision-making
- guide clients through uncertainty with clarity and confidence
This approach aligns directly with the Resolution Code of Practice, particularly its commitment to reducing conflict, supporting informed decision-making, and putting clients at the heart of the process.
How we work with clients and lawyers
We begin by gathering a full financial picture:
- assets: property, pensions, investments
- liabilities: mortgages, debts
- income: employment, maintenance, benefits
- expenditure: current and projected lifestyle needs
But the real value comes in the conversations about a client’s goals, values, and concerns. Do they want to stay in the family home? Fund their children’s education? Retire at 60? Support elderly parents?
These discussions form the basis of bespoke cash flow modelling, allowing us to show clients:
- how their finances may evolve over the next 5, 10, 20+ years
- the implications of different settlement options
- when potential shortfalls might arise, and how to address them
- whether current proposals meet their actual needs
The emotional reassurance of seeing one’s financial life visualised in this way is profound—and it enables better decision-making, better negotiations, and better long-term outcomes.
Supporting the principles of Resolution
The Resolution Code of Practice encourages family justice professionals to:
- reduce or manage conflict and confrontation
- support and encourage families to put the best interests of any children first
- act with honesty, integrity and objectivity
- help clients understand and manage the long-term financial and emotional consequences of decisions
Our work as planners actively supports these aims.
By providing early clarity and reality-testing, we reduce the fear-driven behaviour that often fuels conflict. When clients understand what their future looks like, they’re less likely to make reactive or emotionally charged decisions. They’re also more likely to settle earlier—on terms that truly support their and their children’s needs.
Planners can also help bridge gaps in understanding between parties—particularly where financial complexity is high or there is an imbalance in financial knowledge. This helps level the playing field and ensures both parties are making informed choices, which is essential for fair and lasting outcomes.
Practical benefits for lawyers and mediators
Working with a divorce-focused financial planner can support you by:
- helping clients understand the reality behind settlement offers
- providing evidence to support or challenge proposals during negotiation or mediation
- advising on the accessibility, liquidity and tax implications of assets
- supporting vulnerable or financially inexperienced clients
- reducing the risk of clients later feeling “buyer’s remorse” or returning post-settlement with financial regrets
And, crucially, involving a planner helps protect your client and your reputation. A well-supported client is more satisfied with the process, better equipped for the future, and more likely to recommend your services.
Avoiding common pitfalls
Even generous-looking settlements can be misleading. I’ve worked with clients who, before seeking financial assistance:
- retained the family home but struggled with liquidity, forcing a sale within two years
- accepted maintenance-heavy settlements without understanding the risk of future variation or termination
- took lump sums that appeared large but couldn’t support their lifestyle due to inflation and lack of investment strategy
- rejected reasonable settlements out of fear or confusion, only to accept worse ones later
These scenarios are avoidable with early financial guidance and proper modelling.
When to involve a planner
Ideally, we’re introduced before the Form E is completed, allowing us to work in parallel with the legal team as negotiations develop. However, planners can also add significant value later in the process—particularly when evaluating final settlement offers or post-agreement implementation.
Some solicitors worry about adding cost to an already expensive process. In reality, our involvement often reduces total costs by helping clients reach decisions faster and with greater clarity, reducing the back-and-forth and emotional resistance that can delay settlement.
We offer flexible engagement models—from one-off analysis to ongoing support—depending on client needs.
Final thoughts: collaborative, Resolution-aligned practice
We all want the same thing: for clients to emerge from divorce with dignity, security, and a sense of direction. Family lawyers bring critical legal expertise to that goal. Divorce-focused financial planners bring the financial foresight to turn settlements into sustainable futures.
This collaboration supports not only clients’ best interests but also the standards of practice promoted by Resolution and enshrined in its Code. It’s an integrated, empathetic, and professional approach to family justice.