Love and marriage: have you planned ahead?

Whether you are married and having difficulties or planning your wedding, Lisa Boileau, Partner and Head of Family asks you to stop and pause to consider some really important ‘facts’ behind the ‘myths’.

As the global pandemic changes our lives forever, the ability of us all to adapt to our ‘new normal’ will be key to relationship happiness.

‘Cracks’ that had perhaps started to appear in a marriage pre-pandemic, may well have grown larger as lockdown and the continued restrictions change the way we live together.

On a positive note, people may have seen 2020 as a reason to cement their relationships - deciding to marry. In doing so there may have been a temptation to push ahead without considering the consequences of things going wrong in the future. ‘Who knows what’s around the corner, so let’s just do it,’ could understandably have been their reasoning.

Whatever the situation – whether married and having difficulties or planning your wedding – it’s important that you pause, and consider some really important factors, fully understanding the ‘facts’ behind the ‘myths’. Let’s look at some examples:

Pre-nups, it’s important to remember, they’re not just for the rich!

Pre-nups, (pre-nuptial agreements) are for anyone. Aside from protecting wealth, they ensure couples agree the division of assets if the marriage ends. With increasing numbers or people marrying for a second or third time, ‘prenups’ are increasingly popular.

Post-nups, the lesser known ‘relative’ of the pre-nup for married couples

Post-nups are arrangements that married couples make at any stage. In the case of a relationship breakdown they can protect assets / influence the court when looking at the division of assets and can carry a large amount of weight.

Divorce means a house sale, but at least everything else is safe!

This is a misconception, as all assets will be considered in a divorce. For example, if you work, you will be contributing to a growing pension fund and that is something that parties often don’t realise will fall into the matrimonial pot to be distributed potentially upon a divorce/dissolution.

Let’s get a ‘quickie divorce’!

There is currently no such thing as a ‘quickie divorce’, it can take between six and eight months, or more and your circumstances will affect the timeframe. Some people are badging the new Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill as the ‘quickie divorce’ legislation. That is not true. This bill, which comes into force in autumn 2021, removes ‘fault’ from divorce proceedings, it doesn’t speed up the process!

For information and advice on marriage, divorce or any partnership just ask Lisa Boileau on 01522 515946, email lisa.boileau@wilkinchapman.co.uk or visit wilkinchapman.co.uk