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Military divorce solicitors

A marriage breakdown or separation is one of the most difficult and emotional periods you may experience. It can be even more challenging when you or your partner serves in the military.

The unique circumstances of military life add layers of complexity to the process. As military divorce solicitors, we understand these challenges and are here to support you with expert legal advice and compassionate guidance every step of the way.

Contact our team for a complimentary initial consultation

For professional legal advice and support tailored to the unique needs of military personnel, contact our family team for a free initial consultation. We are here to help you navigate this challenging time with expertise and care.

What is a military divorce?

Military life can take you or your partner all over the world, and long periods apart can strain even the strongest relationships.

When a relationship breaks down, the resulting emotional and financial stress can be overwhelming. It’s crucial to get the right legal advice to navigate these challenges effectively.

The divorce process

If you are considering a divorce we strongly advise you to seek early legal advice. We offer all prospective clients a complementary initial consultation where we will give you an outline of how we can support you through your divorce.

Once you are happy to proceed, we will take full details of all parties, including any children involved, as well as assets and liabilities. If you have a business or international assets we will also need full disclosure so we can advise you on your best options. We can also work with your existing accountant or financial adviser.

We will then meet in-person or via Microsoft Teams, as you prefer, and advise you on various options available to you which may include mediation.

We aim to complete a divorce without the need to go to court, but are experienced in preparing and ensuring the best representation if required.

Why choose the family team?

Our team of specialist divorce solicitors is renowned for providing a professional and caring service, particularly in relation to complex high net worth matters. We are ranked in independent research directories The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.

The specialised team has a wealth of knowledge and experience advising upon the issues that arise upon relationship breakdown including financial disputes of significant value between divorcing couples and cohabiting couples separating together with arrangements for children. Our dedicated divorce lawyers also specialise in providing a relationship planning service advising and drafting pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements.

The team is led by Partner, Victoria Cannon. Victoria is a distinguished family lawyer renowned for her expertise and leadership in the field, serving clients nationwide. With over two decades of experience exclusively in family law, Victoria has cultivated a stellar reputation and is dedicated to achieving favourable outcomes while prioritising the well-being and interests of her clients and their families.

Key contact

Victoria Cannon

Partner

Throughout her career spanning over 19 years in family law, Victoria Cannon has amassed extensive experience in advising business owners on safeguarding their enterprises during divorce proceedings and minimising disruption to their business.


Case study: Military pension ringfenced

We represented Mr. T in a divorce case where Mrs. T initially refused to instigate the divorce and sought to retain the matrimonial home and a share of Mr. T’s military pension. Mr. T, concerned about his significant pension, pursued litigation as Mrs. T was unwilling to agree to ringfencing. The Court, after considering the expert’s pension report and hearing submissions, ordered a Pension Sharing Order limited to the eight years of the marriage, allowing Mr. T to retain 100% of his pension from the non-marital periods.

Read the full case study here.


Your questions answered

Military divorces differ from civilian divorces due to three main factors:

  1. Living and child arrangements:
    If you or your partner is posted abroad, separation or divorce means relocating out of service accommodation. This can lead to one parent living in a different country from their children.
  2. Boarding school allowances:
    Post-divorce, the minimum parental contribution for school fees is likely to change, adding another layer of complexity.
  3. Military pensions:
    Military pensions are more complex than civilian ones. The courts have extensive experience dealing with military cases and will strive to reach a fair financial settlement. Options include:

    • No settlement: If both parties have similar pension arrangements, allowing a clean break.
    • Offsetting: One party keeps their pension, offset by the other receiving a greater share of other assets.
    • Attachment (England and Wales)/Earmarking Orders (Scotland): One party receives a lump sum or regular payments from the other’s pension.
    • Pension sharing: Both parties receive a share of the pension.

Given the complexity, independent financial advice is essential. At Hugh James, we offer professional, tailored financial solutions for current and ex-service personnel, including:

  • Investments and wealth management
  • Retirement planning
  • Inheritance tax planning
  • Income and life protection
  • Mortgages

Most military divorce cases do not go to court. We will negotiate a settlement for you and we may also consider:

  • Mediation; and
  • Non court dispute resolution if it applies.

In the rare case that court is necessary, we are prepared to handle all details to ensure the process is as quick and as efficient as possible.

A military divorce typically takes between six to eight months. The timeframe for military divorce proceedings depends on factors like agreement on finances and timely paperwork submission.

While a quick resolution might be desired, it’s important to consider the long-term impact of your decisions. Our specialist military divorce solicitors provide expert advice to help you move forward confidently and quickly.


Next steps

We’re here to get things moving. Drop a message to one of our experts and we’ll get straight back to you.

Call us: 033 3016 2222

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