Overview

The client had a HNW spouse who had full control of all finances. The client had been made an offer by the spouse, but had no idea if that offer would cover her outgoings. We needed to look at past expenditure to ascertain if the offer was reasonable.

The client

• Full-time housewife and mother
• Married for nearly twenty years
• Three children under eighteen
• Entrepreneur HNW husband
• One UK and one European property

Remit

• To prepare reports and establish monthly expenditure over 18 months
• To assess if maintenance offer made by husband was viable
• To enable Client to accurately budget for future income needs

Issues

• Particular concern about lifestyle maintenance with the children
• Client not in a position to verify monthly expenditure
• Client needed an independent, reliable report to defend future income needs

Result

• Reports clearly demonstrated that the offer being made by spouse was seven times lower than current expenditure
• Reports showed credible budgetary requirements
• Robust evidence for defence of the maintenance amount being required compared to that being offered

Benefits to solicitor

• Reports provided the solicitor with a starting point for defending the client’s settlement requirements
• Reports showed clear points where the solicitor would have negotiating space

Benefits to client

• Huge alleviation of stress for the client, who had no idea where to start with the analysis of current or future living costs; “You are my dream team!”
• Clear demonstration of cost-benefit of the analysis