Police work can place exceptional strain on a family. Our experienced police divorce lawyers understand the challenges officers and their families face, and are here to guide you through a range of family law matters – from divorce and childcare to cohabitation and police pensions after divorce.
What police divorce and family law advice can I access with Slater and Gordon?
Balancing the demands of family and police work isn’t easy. So, when it comes to the big decisions in life, it helps to have experts on your side who understand policing and the related personal and financial issues.
Our family law experts have over 20 years’ experience advising all ranks of police officers and personnel on family matters, including police pensions and divorce, pay scales, shift patterns and child arrangements.
We understand that the breakdown of a relationship is a very stressful and emotional time. Our experienced family law team has expertise in all areas of divorce, and our police divorce lawyers can help with all aspects which need to be considered post-separation.
What can a police family lawyer help with?
Police pensions on divorce or dissolution
The police pension is often the most valuable asset in a divorce, yet its complexity means it's frequently misunderstood. Officers who don’t seek guidance from an expert can end up with incorrect or misleading information, so obtaining specialist police pension divorce advice is essential to achieving a fair settlement.
We understand how your pension works, the differences between the various police pension schemes and the options available to you, so you can make informed decisions.
Children matters
It’s better for children and parents to try and agree on any issues, such as child living arrangements, that may arise from separation. However, this is not always able to happen during what can be an emotionally charged time.
If you require help and assistance to avoid conflict and reach amicable solutions through negotiation, we’re on hand to assist. If this isn’t possible, it may be necessary to go through court proceedings. But rest assured, our highly experienced team is on hand to advise you at every stage.
Cohabitation
Couples who’ve been living together for a long period of time are often referred to as “common law spouses” and may assume they have rights. There is, in fact, no such legal status. For police officers and their partners, this can create real uncertainty, particularly where property, income or death-in-service benefits are involved.
If you’re thinking about moving in together, it’s wise to consider a formal cohabitation agreement. This can set out how property is owned, how finances are shared and what would happen if one of you were to pass away. It can also clarify what should happen if the relationship breaks down, giving both parties legal certainty and protection.
Domestic violence within a relationship can be an emotional, frightening and difficult time. It may contribute to the breakdown of family relationships, or it may occur because of a relationship breaking down. Whatever the case, domestic violence can have direct and indirect effects on someone’s life, and you must make the first steps to end the cycle of violence and break free.
Our friendly and supportive family team can guide you in the right direction and explain the options available to you and your family.
Finances on divorce or separation
When a marriage or civil partnership breaks down, any assets, financial or otherwise, have to be divided between the two parties. For police officers and their partners, divorce can involve additional considerations such as police pension settlements, shift-related income, overtime and benefits linked to service.
Several factors are assessed when deciding how assets should be shared, and there are several ways to reach a fair and workable financial agreement. Our experienced police divorce lawyers understand the unique financial structures within police life and are here to help negotiate, agree and finalise the division of assets. This means both parties can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Nuptial agreements
Naturally, everyone getting married believes they’ll be married for life. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. A pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement, which is entered into before marriage or shortly after marriage, details how assets will be divided if the marriage breaks down, so both parties know exactly where they stand from the outset.
We provide a free initial consultation, discounted rates and fixed fees on some family law services to Police Federation members.
For anyone needing help with family issues I could not recommend Slater and Gordon highly enough. I always had the feeling I had the best looking after my interests and they certainly didn't disappoint.
C I (family and personal matters case)
Matters were dealt with efficiently with a view to keeping costs to a realistic level and I am well satisfied with the final settlement she managed to achieve on my behalf.
J B (family and personal matters case)
The best solicitors to fight your corner! I struggled with a nasty unmarried couple dispute alone for over a year before biting the bullet and paying for proper legal support. I had one previous experience with a cheaper less well known solicitor and I just felt completely let down and not a priority. But with S&G - from start to finish, I felt supported 100% and valued.
B L (family and personal matters case)
This is a very common question for police officers going through divorce and understandably so - a police pension remains one of the best offered in the public sector.
During a divorce, you and your ex-partner will be required to make a full financial disclosure. This should include any pensions you both have. The value of these pension schemes, along with other financial and martial assets, will then be reviewed to determine how much each party should receive in a fair settlement.
In most cases, this will mean that your ex-spouse will receive a share of your pension under a pension sharing order (PSO). This involves a percentage of your pension’s capital value being transferred into a new pension pot in your ex-spouse’s name.
Another option is pension offsetting, where you keep your full pension entitlement and your ex-spouse receives a larger share of other martial assets.
How can I protect my police pension?
It is sometimes possible to protect your police pension, though it may not be possible if you have already started the divorce process. Options such as a pension offset can be a good way of retaining your full pension entitlement, but it does involve sacrificing shares of other martial assets you may be expecting to receive.
The best way of protecting your pension is to do so before you marry or enter a civil partnership by seeking a prenuptial agreement. This agreement sets out how the division of financial assets should be handled in the event of separation or divorce and can be used to effectively ‘ringfence’ your police pension.
While prenuptial agreements are not legally binding in the UK, they do carry a great deal of weight, particularly where it can be shown that the agreement is fair to both sides.
How do child arrangements work when one or both partners are police officers?
Child arrangements for separating partners who are both police offers work in the same way as any other couple – the only difference is that it can be more difficult to settle things like visitation times or days if both parents work shifts.
It is therefore good practice to consider thoroughly the logistics of childcare (such as school drop-offs and pick-ups and holidays) and visitation when discussing child arrangements with your ex-partner. You’ll need to think about things like:
how should childcare be handled when one parent is working difficult shift patterns, such as nights and weekends?
will one or both parents need to request flexible working arrangements to help accommodate childcare responsibilities and, if so, what should this look like?
will your child (or children) reside predominantly with one parent or split their time equally between both? How will this effect things like the school run?
what arrangements will need to be made for school holidays and how should the responsibility be split between parents?
are you able to arrange backup solutions (for instance, support from grandparents) if one or both parents are recalled to duty or required to work overtime?
Keep in mind that any child arrangements that you and your ex-partner agree upon will need to be reviewed and approved by a judge in family court. Their main priority will be the welfare of your child or children, so it is important to work constructively with your ex to achieve the best outcome for all.
What can I expect during the free initial family law consultation?
The initial consultation is an opportunity for you to speak in confidence with a specialist family lawyer who has in-depth knowledge of all areas of family law and police divorce.
We’ll take the time to understand the full history of your situation and provide a holistic approach, covering any areas which may be inter-related to ensure you get the maximum benefit during your consultation.
This will enable you to fully understand your legal position from the outset in an easily digestible format, and the options available to you.
During the consultation, you can expect your lawyer to:
Listen to and discuss the details of your circumstances to get a full understanding of your position and identify any distinct issues.
Provide an explanation of your legal position, the legal process involved and the options available to you.
Summarise the issues and the applications of the law.
Provide a summary of the options available to you and advise as to the pros and cons of each.
Empower you to take any necessary actions by providing a clear roadmap of what your next steps are.
Explain the pricing structure for any chosen route.
If you’d like to arrange a free initial consultation with a specialist family and police divorce solicitor, contact us today.
Speak to our specialist family and police divorce solicitors
We are an award-winning law firm and have a dedicated team of family solicitors to advise and guide you – no matter how complex your situation may be.
Affordability and advice
We offer affordable, expert legal advice on divorce and child arrangements. Book a consultation for clear guidance and next steps. Our assessment helps you understand your situation and make informed decisions. Consultation charged at £150 for 45 minutes.
Tailored advice
We understand that family situations differ – so we are able to provide tailored advice and guidance to suit your individual needs.
Local access
We are a national law firm, with legal experts available locally across the UK. Meetings can be arranged via telephone or video call, to suit your requirements.
No, in almost all police divorces, you won’t need to go to court, but you will most likely need the court’s involvement.
During divorce proceedings, you and your ex-spouse will need to agree how your martial assets, including finances, property and possessions, are split. This will usually involve mediation or negotiation sessions and discussions with a divorce lawyer. Once an agreement has been reached, you will need to apply for a court order to finalise the agreement and make it legally binding.
In rare circumstances where an agreement cannot be reached, a court hearing may be required. If this becomes necessary, your police divorce lawyer will explain to you what will happen next and the best strategy going forward.
What happens to shared assets in police divorce?
Shared assets in a divorce are treated like any other martial asset, which means they will be valued and included within a financial settlement agreement between you and your ex-partner.
Shared assets commonly include things like property, pensions, and high-value possessions such as vehicles. Determining how best to split these assets can be difficult, particularly in the case of property and possessions.
It’s worth remembering that any financial agreement will need to be approved by the court, and they will look to ensure that it meets the needs of both parties in terms of income, housing, and welfare, considering factors such as the length of marriage and future earning capacity.
To learn more about how your assets could be divided in a divorce, or to speak to a member of our team about your case, call us on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online.
How is a police pension split during a divorce?
A police pension could be split in several ways during a divorce.
The most common method used to divide a police pension is known as a pension sharing order (PSO), as this provides both spouses with a clean break. It involves the court ordering a portion of the pension to be transferred into a new pension account in your ex-partner’s name, who then becomes a member of the pension scheme in their own right.
An alternative solution is offsetting. Using this method, you would retain your full pension entitlement and, in return, your ex-partner would receive a larger share of other martial assets of the equivalent value.
Is my spouse entitled to my police pension payments from before we were married?
Yes, your spouse could potentially be entitled to any police pension payments made before you were married. This is because, in England and Wales, any pension you or your ex-partner has built up throughout your lives will be considered a marital asset by the court.
In most divorces, negotiations on how pensions should be divided will start on the basis of a 50/50 split of the total valuation of all pension pots held by either you or your ex. It is sometimes possible to argue that any pre-martial contributions should be ring-fenced – meaning they would not be considered martial assets and therefore not included in any settlement. This is most commonly applied to shorter marriages, or where the court deems there are enough other martial assets to meet the needs of both parties.
For anyone needing help with family issues I could not recommend Slater and Gordon highly enough. I always had the feeling I had the best looking after my interests and they certainly didn't disappoint. C I (family and personal matters case)
Matters were dealt with efficiently with a view to keeping costs to a realistic level and I am well satisfied with the final settlement she managed to achieve on my behalf. J B (family and personal matters case)
The best solicitors to fight your corner! I struggled with a nasty unmarried couple dispute alone for over a year before biting the bullet and paying for proper legal support. I had one previous experience with a cheaper less well known solicitor and I just felt completely let down and not a priority. But with S&G - from start to finish, I felt supported 100% and valued. B L (family and personal matters case)