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Financial disputes on the rise

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18 July 2025 / James Maguire
Issue: 8125 / Categories: Opinion , Legal aid focus , Divorce , Family , ADR , Mediation
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Economic uncertainty, court delays, dwindling legal aid & rising costs are all aiding the recent rise in the number of financial disputes in divorce cases, writes James Maguire

According to figures from the Ministry of Justice, the number of financial remedy orders being contested in the family courts has reached the highest level in 15 years as separating spouses battle for the best outcomes in volatile financial times.

While these figures could be skewed by the number of people who waited for the no-fault divorce legislation which came into force in April 2022, there is an evident rise in financial cases being contested, and we’ve seen more clients investing their time and money to achieve a fair settlement. However, we see an equal number who cut too many corners to save time and costs, risking something which might end up being very unfair in the future or not sufficient to meet their financial needs. Like most things in life, there is a balance.

Economic uncertainty

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