Children can have a huge impact on your divorce settlement in terms of how much you would have to pay out, or how much you would receive if you’re the mother.

Typically assets in a divorce are split 50/50 between the husband and the wife, including the matrimonial home, and also assets that you owned before you were married. This seems harsh, especially when you consider that presents you may have received when you were 17 can be claimed by your ex.

However, when there are children involved things get much worse as the parent with care can claim up to 65% of the assets because of the children. This figure is of course negotiable, but a court could well decide in favour of the parent to be caring for the children.

So, if you look like you might be heading for divorce, and you have children, consider the implications of how much it could cost.

Clive Bellmore