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At Quickie Divorce, we have long espoused the benefits of Consent Orders. Once obtained, they formalise any agreements that spouses have reached with regards to the division of their assets and negate any future claims. The peace of mind that these orders (also colloquially known as Clean Breaks or Clean Break Orders) provide make them absolutely invaluable.

In these austere times, though, people are continuously looking to save money whenever possible and, as many are certain that their spouses will not claim against them in the future, they regard consent orders as unnecessary. Presented with such an argument, any legal professional will – acting in their client’s best interests – reiterate that their patron is leaving themselves open to a future claim against any assets they may acquire in the future. Should the recipient of this advice proceed with their protestations, their adviser will no doubt refer to potential future windfalls – such as a lottery win – in order to further their argument.

Whilst such an unrealistic example of a windfall is unlikely to encourage, however, the story of Dale Vince is likely to prove far more persuasive. Vince married his former wife, Kathleen Wyatt, in 1981. Following this, the couple lived as new age travellers and had one child together before separating in 1984, with their divorce being finalised in 1992. Vince later went on to form green electricity company Ecotricity; a venture that proved to be highly successful with Vince now estimated to be worth £107 million. Unfortunately, Vince, like many others, did not obtain a Consent Order allowing Wyatt to claim a share of his fortune more than twenty years after their divorce was finalised!

Now, you may be thinking that it’s extremely unlikely that you will become a highly-successful entrepreneur following your divorce and, yes, this is a reasonable point, but can you honestly state that you don’t anticipate – or at the very least hope – that your earnings will increase, that your home will increase in value or that you will receive inheritance of some kind? Fail to obtain a Consent Order prior to or within six months of your divorce having been finalised and your former spouse is likely to be able to make a claim against these or any other windfalls that may benefit you.

Fortunately, Quickie Divorce are not only able to provide low-cost stress free divorces, but affordable solicitor-checked Consent Orders too. Click here to find out more.