Yes, it’s that time of year again, supposedly the most romantic day of the year, St Valentine’s Day.

Whilst this day has become the one day of the year for couples to book a table at the local Italian restaurant (for twice the usual price), a recent study has shown that, in fact it is a peak time for many spouses to file for divorce.

Apparently, these spouses are either New Year late comers who have finally given up on their wilting marriage or they are waiting to see what attempt (if any) their spouse makes on the most romantic day of the year.  One can only assume that if a dozen red roses aren’t hand delivered to the door, this means it’s time to file for a divorce.

Sound familiar? If you are contemplating going through a divorce at this difficult time, but have no idea where to start, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:

How much will a divorce cost?

Going through a divorce is stressful enough so at Kleyman & Co we pride ourselves on offering you a cost effective, fixed fee divorce. For an uncontested divorce, we offer a fixed fee of £1,500 plus VAT (excluding disbursements, which is the obligatory court fee of currently £550). We can also discuss with you the option of setting up a payment plan so that you are able to easily manage your finances to avoid any nasty surprises.

Can I start a new relationship whilst I am going through a divorce?

The answer to this questions is yes, conduct very rarely plays a part in divorce proceedings, so if you have met someone else this will not directly have an effect on your entitlement in divorce proceedings. However, if the relationship becomes serious to the point that you are cohabiting with your new partner, this may be a consideration during financial remedy proceedings or settlement discussions.

What am I entitled to?

In England and Wales the starting point to any separation of matrimonial assets in a divorce is based on a 50/50 basis that said, there are many practical considerations that can enable a departure from this general rule. There are specific factors laid down in the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 which consider amongst other things, the parties’ needs and responsibilities, the standard of living, and contributions made by each party during the marriage. In divorce proceedings there is a pretty wide interpretation of these considerations by judges, therefore it is always wise and more cost effective to come to financial settlement with your spouse with the assistance of your solicitor so you know exactly where you stand.

If you are experiencing a particularly unromantic St Valentine’s Day and wish to discuss the options available to you, then drop me a line at simone@kleymansolicitors.comto talk it through with me in more detail.