Dealing with the financial arrangements upon divorce1
Reaching an agreement or settlement of how to divide up the matrimonial property or assets including the former matrimonial home, pensions and whether maintenance is payable, is often the more difficult part of the whole divorce process. Obtaining of a Final Order of divorce does not resolve the financial matters between you and your spouse. The Final Order of divorce only brings your marriage2 to an end, all financial matters have to be settled by a separate order.
A fair and reasonable agreement
Hopefully you and your partner will be able to reach an agreement with each other as to how to divide up the matrimonial assets; but it is important that the agreement reached is fair and is enforceable and will not be overturned at some future date. It is important that you get legal advice at the earliest stage possible so that you can know your legal rights and obligations and so that the negotiations with your partner can be entered into in confidence knowing that you are properly dealing with all the issues and have not missed out any crucial points.
Guidance from experienced solicitors
We are happy to have a without prejudice meeting with you at an early stage (even if you are not ready to start the divorce process) to outline your legal rights and to guide you to the points which you should consider and to give you the general advice which will help you to decide your next step. You are under no obligation to take matters any further and the meeting will hopefully put your mind at rest and explain clearly and straight forwardly what could otherwise be a worrying and confusing series of issues.
Methods of reaching agreement
There are several ways in which you can agree the division of matrimonial assets including Mediation, Solicitor negotiation, Collaborative Law and Court proceedings. If you and your partner do reach an agreement (with or without legal advice and help) we would very strongly advise that the agreement is recorded in a “Consent Order”. This will ensure that financial issues are finalised properly and that neither of you can re-open the issue at some future point. Without this “Consent Order” either of you could at any stage in the future issue proceedings and ask the court to divide up the assets which you and your partner have at that point in time (not what you had when you separated or divorced!).
Applications to Court
Most divorce financial settlements are resolved through negotiation but if that is not possible or the finances are complex due to there being business assets or valuable pensions, then it may be necessary to issue court proceedings. Throughout those proceedings there are opportunities to still reach an agreed settlement and we will advise you throughout with the intention of settling matters on a fair and reasonable basis wherever possible.
The circumstances of your case
All sorts of factors and circumstances can and will be taken into account in deciding how the matrimonial property and assets will be divided. We will advise you of all of those circumstances which may then lead to you to settling matters in a way which you would not have otherwise considered or have been aware of.
The division of assets on divorce is likely to be one of the largest and most complex transactions that you ever have to deal with and we are there with many years of experience and specialisation in this area of law to guide you successfully through the process and hopefully reach an amicable equitable resolution which takes all of your personal circumstances into account and provides you with a tailor made settlement designed specifically for you.
Family law team
Julie Slater-Williams
Family Law | Head of Department | Partner
Experience
Julie qualified as a Solicitor in 2005. She has specialised in Family Law all through her career, throughout Staffordshire and Cheshire. In 2015, she joined Keelys LLP. Julie is a Partner and Head of Department.
Practice Area
Julie has practiced family law throughout her career, qualifying in 2005.
Julie has extensive experience of all areas of family law including divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, private law children matters, special guardianship orders, pre nuptial and post nuptial agreements and financial matters on divorce / dissolution.
Julie has experience with high net worth cases including multi million pound assets, high value pensions and high value businesses. She regularly liaises with top tier counsel in cases involving unusual elements and arguments relating to conduct and intractable contact disputes and implacable hostility in children cases.
Julie is also a qualified collaborative solicitor. She is trained to assist clients in settlement focused manner where this is deemed appropriate. She has strong links with other collaborative solicitors. Julie’s ethos is to get to the heart of cases in as cost effective and stress reduced way as possible. Where this is not possible, Julie will advise and litigate to contested hearings to ensure that the matters that need to be dealt with are done so as swiftly and thoroughly as possible to ensure the needs of the client are met.
Qualifications
Solicitor
Interests
Julie is a keen reader, traveller and enjoys spending time with her children doing fun things.
Marie Bell
Family Law | Matrimonial Executive
Experience
Marie joined Keelys in December 2013. She has over 20 years experience of working within a family law department. Marie became a Graduate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (now known as CILEX Member – Advanced Paralegal) on the 25th March 2025 and she obtained her certificate in family law in August 2011. Marie is currently working towards her fellowship, with a view to becoming a CILEX Fellow.
Practice Area
Marie specialises in divorce and the resolution of financial matters. Marie also undertakes work in relation to separation agreements where unmarried couples were engaged and children proceedings.
Qualification
MCILEX
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Interests
Out of work Marie enjoys the outdoors by volunteering on a Local Nature Reserve, walking and cruising the inland waterways on a narrowboat. She also enjoys wildlife photography.
Julie Cox
Family Law | Family Lawyer
Experience
Julie has over 10 years’ experience representing clients in family law cases in addition to Court advocacy representation.
Practice Area
Julie specialises in all private family matters, including divorce, judicial separation, dissolution of Civil Partnerships, cohabitation agreements and disputes, financial negotiations and settlements, pre and post-nuptial agreements, child arrangements and Injunctions.
Julie is known to have a pragmatic but empathetic approach and has a number of outstanding recommendations and reviews from previous clients.
Highlights
- International child relocation
- Return of a child in a child abduction case
- Successful defenses to Injunctions
- Prevention of dissipation of international assets in financial remedy case
Qualifications
CILEX
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Nashmeen Malik
Family Law | Assistant
Experience
Nashmeen became part of Keelys Family team in June 2023 as a Matrimonial Assistant. Nashmeen has many years’ of experience assisting in relation to Family matter, Wills, LPAs, and Probate Law. In April 2023, Nashmeen successfully concluded her Paralegal Training and UK Legal System training at QLS Level 5.
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Interests
Outside of the legal realm, Nashmeen is passionate about holistic healing, personal development, and spirituality. Graduating as a holistic life coach and Mind Body Practitioner in 2021, she finds delight in delving into literature on spirituality, neuroscience, and positive psychology, while also cherishing moments spent with her loved ones.
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