Navigating Divorce Finances: Is Real Change Finally Coming?
If you’ve ever wondered why divorce financial settlements feel uncertain, slow, or unfair, you’re not alone.
Many couples walk away from the process confused about how decisions were made, while others avoid pursuing a fair settlement altogether, fearing cost and complexity.
Now, the Law Commission’s Financial Remedies on Divorce report has thrown open the doors for long-awaited reform. From clearer rules to reducing legal fees and putting control back in your hands, change could be on the horizon — and it could transform how separating couples plan for the future.
In this blog post, we’ll break down:
✅ Why the current system isn’t working
✅ The four reform models on the table
✅ What these changes could mean for you
✅ How you can prepare, whether reforms happen tomorrow or in five years
If you’re considering divorce, in the middle of negotiations, or simply want to understand how to protect your future, read on. These proposed changes could affect your home, your pension, and your financial freedom — and we’re here to guide you through them.
What’s going wrong?
The Law Commission’s scoping report, as highlighted by the Financial Remedies Journal, calls our current system “uncertain and inaccessible.”
Only around 11.5% of divorcing couples currently challenge financial issues in court, and barely 11% deal with pensions at all. That means thousands of people risk unfair outcomes simply because the process feels too daunting and unclear.
At Seymours + Solicitors, we’ve seen how this plays out locally in Brighton and Hove. Many clients come to us frustrated by legal jargon and inconsistent outcomes, and are worried about losing more than they gain by pursuing what’s fair.
What are the four reform models being considered?
The Law Commission outlines four broad paths for reform:
1️⃣ Codification – Write the current principles into clear law.
2️⃣ Codification-Plus – Same as above, but with tweaks for modern families.
3️⃣ Guided Discretion – Provide clear statutory rules alongside flexible judicial guidance.
4️⃣ Default Property Regime – Create an automatic framework for splitting assets.
Each approach balances fairness, clarity, and flexibility differently — and sparks healthy debate in the legal community.
What are the benefits of this change?
As an established family law firm with strong local connections across Brighton and Hove, we believe in reform that gives families more control, more clarity, and less stress when separating:
Certainty Empowers Clients: Clearer rules help you plan your future and agree settlements with more confidence.
Access & Affordability: A simpler system helps more people reach fair deals without feeling forced into costly court battles.
Proportional Process: Not every family dispute needs a courtroom. Better guidance could help more couples mediate or arbitrate instead.
What happens next?
A government response is expected within six months, with a final position in about a year.
There could be new draft laws, pilot schemes, or consultations before changes take effect.
For now, the system remains as it is - but change is firmly on the table.
How Seymours + Solicitors can help you
No matter how the law evolves, you need clear advice today. At Seymours + Solicitors, our Brighton and Hove team combines national expertise with local connections that help deliver the best outcomes for our clients. Whether you’re dividing a family home, business assets, or pensions, we can:
✔️ Demystify your options and your rights
✔️ Guide you through negotiation, mediation or court
✔️ Secure the best possible financial future for you and your family
We’re proud to be an established part of the Brighton and Hove community… and we’re here to help you navigate change with confidence.