Planning your future

Expert family solicitors at Russell-Cooke will help you plan for your future. Increasingly people are considering their financial future and discussing financial matters with their partner at the start of a relationship rather than the end. A dispute at this stage can lead to an uncertain outcome and the costs, both emotional and financial, may be substantial.

Making a pre or post-nuptial agreement, entering into a cohabitation agreement or signing a declaration of trust is becoming a popular way of providing greater certainty and financial provision, if the relationship were to break down. It is a form of financial planning and it can also help preserve your relationship by talking about complicated financial aspects at the start. This sensible approach can save acrimony, time and cost further down the line. 

Our expert family team has huge experience in advising on all type of financial agreements which include:

• A pre or post-nuptial agreement which is entered into by a couple about to get married, setting out what they would like to happen with their finances in the event that the relationship breaks down. While anyone with significant wealth entering into a marriage would be well advised to consider entering into a pre-nuptial agreement, they are no longer the preserve of the rich and famous.  Pre and post-nuptial agreements are increasingly used by couples with more modest finances who would like some financial certainty in the event of a relationship breakdown. 
• A cohabitation agreement and/or a declaration of trust is an agreement which is entered into by a couple who are not about to get married but who wish to buy a property or live together. The law that applies to such couples is very different to the law that applies if they are married. Complex principles of property and trust law apply in this situation which can be very difficult to navigate if financial transactions or property purchases were not considered properly at the time of purchase.  

You should consider consulting us and gaining some advice if:

• you or your partner own a property or other asset of financial value prior to a marriage, 
  which you want to protect;
• you or your partner have received an inheritance before a marriage, or expect to receive one in the future;
• you or your partner have set up or are in the process of setting up a business;
• you or your partner are entering into a second or later in life marriage, and have a greater amount of personal wealth, which you are keen to protect, or have children from a previous relationship or divorce whose inheritance prospects you wish to protect;
• you or your partner have already gone through a divorce, and are alive to the emotional and financial cost of legal proceedings after separation and wish to take steps to minimise this;
• you or your partner have assets abroad or connections with another country, and want to achieve some certainty as to what will happen in the event of a breakdown of your marriage;
• you want to live with someone and you want to record who has contributed what to a property purchase; or 
• you want to live with someone and you want to agree how your finances will be regulated whilst you are together.  
• you want to buy a property with a third party (such as a relative or friend).  
• you want to contribute towards a property for your children, siblings or a third party. 

We have wide experience in advising a broad range of people on pre and post-nuptial agreements, from mid-income couples to high net worth individuals or those with international ties. Advising couples whose lives span different jurisdictions is a key specialism for us. We also have a number of lawyers who are experts on cohabiting couples and the complex law that applies in this situation.

We have a number of collaborative lawyers within our family team, and you may want to consider the collaborative process as an alternative to solicitor-led negotiations when finalising the terms of your agreement. We know that at the start of a relationship it’s important to work with you to find the best way to facilitate conversations. Our wider team can also provide advice on all areas connected to pre and post-nuptial agreements, including trusts, inheritance, tax, conveyancing, French property and general company and commercial services.

Here are some comments made about us.

Our hourly rates are competitive and offer value for money. We are clear and upfront about legal costs from the start and know how important this is to clients.

Our charges are based on hourly rates depending on the experience of the people working on your case. We will always provide you with an estimate of your likely legal costs at the start and will keep you fully updated regularly if this changes due to your requirements or if the circumstances of the work change.