At First Law Solicitors, we help clients achieve complete financial independence after divorce through expertly structured Clean Break Orders. Our focus is on finality and long-term stability, ensuring that once your divorce is complete, no future financial claims can be made against you.
Based in Manchester and advising clients across England and Wales, we are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID No: 665823). Each matter is led by a senior solicitor with more than twenty years of post qualification experience in family finance, asset division, and complex wealth protection.
A Clean Break Order is a legally binding court order that permanently ends financial obligations between former spouses. Once approved, it prevents either party from making future financial claims for income, property, pension, or inheritance.
Without a clean break, your former spouse could still bring a claim years after the divorce. For professionals, entrepreneurs, or clients with significant assets, achieving a clean break is essential for protecting future income and avoiding litigation risk.
A clean break is most suitable when both parties can meet their financial needs independently once assets have been divided. However, modern family law recognises that full separation may not be immediately achievable for every client.
We specialize in drafting deferred clean breaks—strategic orders that provide a clear financial end date while allowing for a short, tapering transition of support. This ensures your long-term protection is finalized without leaving an indefinite maintenance tail attached to your future income.
Under section 25A of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the court is encouraged to consider finality, but achieving the right balance between fairness and financial independence requires precision, commercial awareness, and foresight.
Warning: Under the Section 28(3) Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 “remarriage trap,” you may permanently lose the right to apply for property or lump sum orders once you have entered a new legal union.
We ensure your clean break application is filed and secured before you take that next step. This proactive measure prevents the irreversible loss of entitlement and preserves your financial autonomy during one of life’s most significant transitions.
A Clean Break Order may include:
We draft every order to reflect the complete scope of sections 25 and 25A of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, ensuring that the final order is watertight and enforceable.
Our process is designed for clarity, efficiency, and peace of mind.
We begin by assessing both parties’ financial disclosure and then negotiate fair and final terms. Once the settlement is agreed, we prepare and file a Financial Consent Order containing the clean break provisions. The Family Court reviews the documentation, and once sealed, it becomes legally binding.
To avoid the six to twelve month delays currently seen in the public court system, we utilize Private Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) and Arbitration. This not only secures your clean break in weeks but also satisfies the court’s 2026 requirement for meaningful Non Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) engagement, mitigating the risk of adverse costs orders.
All documentation is managed through secure client portals and signed using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES)that meet the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 standards. Every stage of your case is handled digitally, with accuracy and discretion.
A clean break is more than legal finality; it is financial protection for your future. It creates a firewall that shields your income, property, pensions, and future investments from future claims.
For high net worth clients, entrepreneurs, and business owners, the strategic value of a clean break lies in preserving capital and stability. It ensures that:
Our solicitors coordinate closely with wealth managers, pension specialists, and tax advisers to deliver comprehensive, forward-looking settlements.
Every stage of your matter is protected by encrypted systems compliant with the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. We employ HMLR standard Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) to allow remote signing without compromising validity.
Our 2026 Digital Shield framework ensures your sensitive financial data remains secure, encrypted, and accessible only through our dedicated client portal.
Following approval of your Clean Break Order, we assist with implementing asset transfers, pension adjustments, and property or trust restructures.
Our Post Settlement Transition Service ensures your new financial arrangements are executed seamlessly and that your estate planning and tax structures are updated to reflect your new circumstances.
This continuity of care is one of the defining qualities of First Law Solicitors’ premium service.
Every clean break matter we handle is guided by three principles:
Protection: Complete closure of financial ties and prevention of future claims.
Precision: Every clause crafted to anticipate potential challenges.
Permanence: Financial freedom that lasts, backed by legally enforceable outcomes.
We bring together expertise from our Family, Private Client, and Property teams to provide seamless, multi-disciplinary support for clients with complex assets and cross-border interests.
From the first consultation, we focus on strategy and foresight. You receive clear timelines, honest guidance, and complete transparency.
You will work directly with a senior solicitor who ensures your order is secure and your independence absolute. We maintain clear communication, pragmatic advice, and exceptional confidentiality throughout.
If you wish to end financial ties following divorce and secure your financial independence, contact First Law Solicitors today for confidential expert advice.
📞 Call 0044 161 224 4066
🖋 Complete our online enquiry form to arrange a private consultation with one of our family solicitors.
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