Consent Order Packages? WikiVorce? Timing? Conditional Order March.

Hi

My ex and I are in agreement that we will split the equity in our home 50/50 and each keep our individual savings and pensions. An application for a conditional order can be made 18th March 2026.

Am I able to start sorting the Consent Order with her in Jan? If not how soon would this be possible. I need to start putting in some overtime to save for a new place.

We had planned to use the Wikivorce service/package. I wondered there were any thoughts regarding this. It involves a solicitor drafted consent order and the option of a couple of hours mediation if needed.

>>Am I able to start sorting the Consent Order with her in Jan?

Yes, but you will not be able to submit such a proposed consent order to the court for approval until you have the conditional order. You do not need to wait before starting to discuss and negotiate because that is what usually takes most of the time.

So January's figures will suffice and I can start putting in the overtime to fund my new place?

Also any thoughts on packages for consent orders from the likes of Wikivorce?

>>So January's figures will suffice and I can start putting in the overtime to fund my new place?

Not exactly, no. You can't be sure your money will remain your own until a consent order has actually been agreed and approved by a court. Sometimes the risk is small when a consent order has been agreed and waiting approval from a court but that risk is still there.

As to package deals I don't really want to comment on that. It is a case of buyer beware and for you to satisfy yourself that it will meet your needs.

Relatively straightforward case, 4 year marriage with no kids. Similar incomes. I have more in savings (50K vs 10K). Split equity of 140K 50/50. No pension share.

What is the gold standard approach to ensure no come back?

You say it is straightforward but you do not say how long you have been together (not just how long you have been married), over what period of time the difference in savings has arisen, what the pension difference is or over what period of time any pensions have been built up. Also, rather importantly, you do not say what the view of your wife is on all this. Perhaps it is straightforward but with this information missing it is no more than the sound of one hand clapping.

David Terry Wrote:
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> You say it is straightforward but you do not say
> how long you have been together (not just how long
> you have been married), over what period of time
> the difference in savings has arisen, what the
> pension difference is or over what period of time
> any pensions have been built up. Also, rather
> importantly, you do not say what the view of your
> wife is on all this. Perhaps it is straightforward
> but with this information missing it is no more
> than the sound of one hand clapping.


Ex agrees we should keep our individual savings and no pension sharing.
We have lived together for 7 years. Married for 4 of those. And dated while studying for 3 years before this.
Is it appropriate for me to ask how much she currently has and for her pension forecast? Or should this be reserved for financial disclosure?

>>Ex agrees we should keep our individual savings and no pension sharing.

Perhaps so but people often fail to understand that a court has to be satisfied that an agreement is broadly fair before they will approve it. And that applies no matter how 'agreed' both spouses are. It is true that in a case such as this where there are no children, both spouses are working and both are relatively young a court might not have any great concerns. Indeed, there are also judges who will wave some agreements through although another judge might not.

Since you are both relatively young it may also be the case that the cost of a pension sharing order would be disproportionate. Having said that it is hard to say without knowing what the value of each pension is.

What bothers me rather more is this business about keeping your own savings when yours are 50K and hers are 10K. The point is that you have been together rather a long time so it seems likely your respective savings were built up while you were together. If that is so then there is no obvious reason why such savings should not be treated as matrimonial for divorce purposes. A court might well ask the same question. Perhaps there is a convincing answer but I would not be surprised if a court asked the question.