More and more unmarried couples and friends are buying houses together, but the move comes with potentially serious financial risks.  In this episode, Matt & Liza explain the importance of how a property is legally owned, the risks unmarried couples face and the legal options available to protect yourself financially if the love bubble bursts.   From Joint Tenants to a Declaration of Trust, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to buy a house with a partner, friend, or family member.  00:38 Statistics on unmarried couples in the UK 01:15  The total myth of th ..read more

Going to the family court can be overwhelming, and cause high levels of stress, fear and confusion. Learning how to prepare and understand what will happen can help reduce anxiety and build resilience to navigate the day and deal with unexpected issues along the way. Leading divorce consultant Rhiannon Ford joined hosts Matt & Liza for this episode to share her tips and advice on how to prepare emotionally and practically for a family court hearing. 00:38 Introductions to Rhiannon  01:24 What do people fear about the family court?  02:58 The different types of family court hearin ..read more

Debts can add a layer of extra stress and complication to couples trying to navigate a divorce. What happens if one person builds up debt during the marriage? Who is responsible for the debt? What about loans from the bank of Mum & Dad?  In this episode, Matt & Liza explore the role of debt in divorce, the different types of debt and how they are viewed, who has responsibility for debits, the approach of the family courts and the link between debts and economic abuse.  00:00 Debt is often a part of divorce 01:09 Can you get divorced when you are in debt?  02:39 What are ..read more

Inheritance can be one of the most emotive and complex elements of a financial settlement in divorce.  So how is it usually dealt with? The bottom line is that inheritance isn't always safe in divorce, and there's no simple yes or no answer.  In this episode, hosts Matt & Liza explore the tricky issue of inheritance and divorce, how the family court considers it and different ways to protect inheritance when you are married.  00:30 The tricky issue of inheritance 00:50 How does the family court view inheritance? 01:00 Matrinomal v non-matrimonial assets 01:41 What is ming ..read more

Parental responsibility is a legal term that covers the rights of a parent to be involved in making decisions in the best interests of their children.  But it’s not just about Mum and Dad - it's possible for someone to have parental responsibility for a child without being their legal parent, and for a legal parent to not have parental responsibility. In this episode, hosts Matt & Liza break down the myths surrounding parental responsibility, who can we have it, and who can’t, if you can lose parental responsibility, and what legal options are available if those with it cannot agree o ..read more

Domestic abuse is complex, multi-layered, and all consuming for survivors. For those in minority communities, it can present further unique challenges that need specialist support.  Domestic Abuse Consultant, specialising in post-separation abuse and creator of You Don’t Own Me, Lucy Wade joined us to share her knowledge of the challenges faced by survivors of abuse in minority communities, and what support is available.   If you are a victim/survivor of domestic abuse, or supporting someone else in this situation, this podcast will help.  00:00 Welcome 00:37 Introduction to Luc ..read more

Abusive relationships rarely start abusive. Instead, they build up over, slowly, over time, gradually changing the survivors perception of reality and sense of self.   As our guest for this episode, domestic abuse expert and coach, Caron Kipping says: “If someone punched you in the face on your first date,  would you go back for a second date?” The answer is an obvious no, but domestic abuse slowly draws in survivors, leaving them trapped, isolated, confused and abused.  Would you know the early signs of an abusive relationship? Take a listen as Caron explains what the red flags ..read more

In most divorces, couples face challenges around the mortgage. From who will pay for it whilst you separate, to working out mortgage affordability for your next home.  And with interest rates still high, a growing housing crisis and an expert predicted rocky 12-18 months ahead, we asked Charlotte Tollitt, a Mortgage Broker from Meet Margo, to join us to talk about all things mortgage and divorce.  00:00 Introductions 01:30 Mortgages are a common issue in divorce 02:30 What happens if you don’t pay your mortgage? 04:20 Who does the bank chase for the mortgage payments? 05:30 What are ..read more

The gasp factor, what should be the real headline of financial abuse, things must change and our collective responsibility… We’re back for season 6 as we welcome leading 4PB Barrister Anita Mehta, who juggles a busy practice of complex financial remedy and children disputes with lecturing, writing and podcasting to look at how domestic abuse plays out in financial proceedings. Co-author of the recent Resolution report on this matter, Anita takes us back to the history of how the family court has viewed domestic abuse, where we are today and makes a loud and clear call for change. 00:00 Intr ..read more

In April 2024, changes were made to the Family Procedure Rules to encourage more people to use non-court-based methods to resolve financial issues arising from divorce or over their children.  Matt & Liza discuss these changes and share their (sometimes very different) opinions on what they think about the changes, and what does it actually mean for separating couples? 00:30 What are the Family Procedure Rules?  01:01 What were the changes?  01:31 What is non-court dispute resolution (NCDR)? 03:30 What are the positives of the changes? And how will it work in practice?07:00 ..read more