High Net Worth Divorce Solicitors

A high-net-worth divorce typically involves couples with significant assets that exceed £1 million. This might include complex financial structures involving various business interests, large property portfolios, shares and investments, complex trusts, and international assets. Our family law solicitors have the specialist legal expertise required to assist in these cases, helping couples navigate the intricacies of asset valuation, disclosure requirements, and the potential for disputes over complex assets such as cryptocurrency, NFTs, and business holdings.

High-net-worth divorces and financial settlements involving business assets or other complex financial structures require additional consideration. What’s included in a financial settlement will be based on various factors, such as whether the business was established before or during the marriage, both parties’ contributions during that marriage, and each spouse’s future income needs.

Courts will typically consider whether assets are matrimonial or non-matrimonial property, which can significantly impact the final settlement. Our solicitors have extensive experience handling complex asset division, including how complex assets or businesses are handled in a high-net-worth divorce.

Assets acquired before marriage are known as non-matrimonial property. Non-matrimonial property also includes inheritances and gifts received during the marriage.. It is important to remember that these assets can be handled differently in divorce settlements. The Supreme Court's judgment in Standish v Standish [2025] UKSC 26 (2 July 2025) has significantly clarified the law on non-matrimonial property. The Court established five key principles, including that non-matrimonial assets — such as pre-acquired wealth, inheritances, and gifts — are not subject to the sharing principle unless required to meet needs or compensate for relationship-generated disadvantage. Matrimonialisation depends on the manner in which the parties treated assets during the marriage and the intentions behind those actions, not on title alone and transfers for tax planning purposes will not normally imply matrimonialisation.

Arrangements such as Mesher Orders are designed for this reason. A Mesher Order is a specific type of property adjustment order in connection with divorce proceedings or judicial separation that is made under section 24 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. Its purpose is to postpone the sale of a family home following divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership. These orders can provide stability for children while ensuring both parties' long-term housing needs are considered. However, Mesher Orders come with specific considerations that require expert legal advice.