I have been married for several years but have recently separated from my spouse. We have finalised a property settlement, but are yet to get around to being officially divorced.. I don’t have a Will, does this mean my former spouse will still have access to my estate when I die? The simple answer is yes. Whilst you may be separated, you are still legally married and have a legal ‘spouse’ in … [Read more...]
Property Settlements After Separation: Who Gets the Toaster?
Relationship breakdowns are frequently likened to a death. Certainly, like a death, there is a good degree of grieving involved, along with the more practical management of affairs. During what is nearly always an emotional time this can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Property Settlement is an arrangement about how you and your ex-spouse or domestic partner distribute property. It … [Read more...]
Delaying Property Settlement: Understanding the Risks
So you’ve been separated for a while and you haven’t yet managed to get around to sorting out the property settlement. Life gets busy. You might be operating in a ‘state of denial’ and emotionally unprepared to deal with it. Sometimes reluctance simply stems from the reality that things are so complicated that you ‘just know’ that you will need to pay a lawyer to sort it all out. Whatever your … [Read more...]
