Receiving a financial proposal from your ex during divorce proceedings can be overwhelming. Whether it arrives as a letter from their solicitor or a direct message, knowing how to evaluate and respond to it is important.
Take your time
You are not obliged to respond immediately. Take time to read and understand the proposal before reacting. Responding in haste, particularly if you are feeling emotional, rarely produces the best outcome.
What to look for
- What is being offered, assets, property, pension, maintenance
- What is being asked for in return
- What is not mentioned, are there assets missing from the proposal?
- Any deadlines or conditions attached
- Whether the proposal is "without prejudice", meaning it cannot be used in court
Get advice
Before accepting or rejecting any proposal, get advice. Even a single consultation with a family solicitor to sense-check whether a proposal is fair can be money very well spent. Once you accept a proposal and it is embodied in a Consent Order, it is very difficult to undo.
Responding
Your response should be in writing, measured in tone and clear about what you accept, what you reject and what you propose instead. Avoid emotional language, keep it focused on the financial issues.