In this episode of Family Law in the UK, Family law Partner, Natasha Slabas is joined by Chartered Financial Planner, Jade Swanston of Advanta Wealth to unpack the financial realities of divorce and why expert advice - taken early - can be the difference between reactive decisions and a confident, sustainable plan.

Jade explains how Advanta Wealth’s specialist divorce proposition grew out of real experience, including a colleague’s own divorce—illustrating how even finance professionals can feel overwhelmed without structured, future-focused planning.

The conversation centres on practical, plain-English guidance for people at any stage of separation. Jade outlines how cashflow modelling brings clarity to the “two households from one” challenge by creating a “base case” for life immediately post‑divorce and then stress‑testing realistic scenarios. Using financial disclosure (Form E), budgets and sensible assumptions, she shows how to assess affordability, prioritise needs, and avoid the common trap of focusing only on the family home at the expense of income, pensions and long‑term security. Natasha highlights how clients often overvalue the here‑and‑now and undervalue retirement planning; Jade describes how scenario planning helps weigh trade‑offs such as offsetting pension claims to keep the home, the long‑term cost of doing so, and whether downsizing or adjusting retirement timelines might be more prudent.

They also tackle Duxbury calculations and the appeal of a “bird in the hand” lump sum to capitalise maintenance. Jade explains how personalised cashflow modelling complements Duxbury by tailoring assumptions to an individual’s risk profile and life goals, exploring how to deploy a lump sum - whether via risk‑managed investments or income‑producing products - to meet spending needs over time.

This episode also looks at hidden items that frequently get missed when couples “agree a deal” without full advice: updating wills and pension death nominations, revisiting beneficiary designations, splitting joint protection policies, and insuring maintenance obligations against death, incapacity or job loss. The takeaway is practical and empowering: comprehensive, early financial planning provides a calmer decision‑making framework in an emotionally charged process, helps you see beyond survival mode, and supports outcomes that stand up not only on day one after decree absolute, but 10–15 years down the line.

In this episode, Natasha Slabas (Family Law Partner in London) and Samantha Jago (Family Law Partner in Guildford) sit down with James Evans, Head of Professional Education at Our Family Wizard (OFW), to explore how the platform is transforming communication in family law proceedings. Whether used before, during or after court involvement, OFW offers a structured and secure space for separated parents to manage co-parenting more effectively.

Having recommended OFW for over a decade, Samantha shares how valuable the tool has been in her own practice. She highlights the “ToneMeter” feature as particularly useful. It gives live feedback on the tone of written messages, helping parents reflect and potentially reframe aggressive or emotionally charged language. There’s also an upgraded version of this feature powered by OFW’s own closed AI system, which can suggest more appropriate wording.

The podcast also touches on potential concerns, such as a parent refusing to use the app. If OFW is court-ordered and one party fails to engage, this is logged and visible to the other party and professionals involved. In cases of faked or manipulated communications, which are sadly not uncommon, James emphasises that OFW offers greater security than alternatives. Fake WhatsApp messages are increasingly found in proceedings, whereas OFW’s system is tamper-proof, GDPR-compliant, and developed with safeguarding and integrity in mind.

Although OFW is a paid service, a fee waiver system is available for those who need financial assistance, ensuring the platform remains accessible.

In this podcast, Family Law Partner Natasha Slabas discusses drug and alcohol testing in family law with guests James Nutt, Operations Manager for Cansford Laboratories, and Lauren Blythe, Senior Associate in the Family Team.

In family law proceedings, concerns about alcohol misuse by a parent or guardian can significantly impact decisions regarding where a child shall live and the time they spend with each parent. To address these concerns, courts often order alcohol testing to provide objective evidence of consumption patterns.

If a parent's alcohol use is suspected to compromise their ability to care for a child, or if there are allegations of excessive drinking, testing can help the court assess the level of risk and make informed decisions. It can also be used to:

• Assess chronic and excessive consumption: To determine if someone has been drinking heavily over a sustained period.
• Monitor abstinence or reduced consumption: For parents who are trying to demonstrate sobriety or a commitment to changing their drinking habits.
• Verify changed patterns of alcohol use: To track progress and ensure compliance with court orders.
• Rebuild trust: Consistent testing can help rebuild trust between parents, authorities, and child welfare professionals.

James details the various tests available in the UK and explains what they each offer. He sets out that these tests offer different detection windows and type of information. Examples of the types of tests are: Hair Strand Testing, Blood Alcohol Testing, Nail Testing, Breath Alcohol Testing and SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring by way of an Ankle Bracelet

Natasha and Lauren go on to provide some insight regarding the impact of drug and alcohol testing in Court proceedings. Including:

• Court Orders: Alcohol testing is typically ordered by the court, especially when concerns about substance abuse are raised.
• Consent and Refusal: While a parent cannot be physically forced to provide a sample, refusing to comply with a court-ordered test can lead to the judge drawing negative inferences, effectively assuming the allegations of alcohol abuse are true. Similarly, attempting to interfere with test results (e.g., by cutting hair very short) can also lead to negative inferences.
• Interpretation of Results: Test results are analysed by experts and presented in a report. These reports consider various factors, including declared medications or external influences on hair, to provide a comprehensive interpretation. It's important to note that a positive test result doesn't automatically mean a parent loses custody; the results are part of a broader assessment alongside all other evidence in the case.
• Costs: The cost of testing can be borne by the tested party or shared between parties, with courts often ordering shared costs due to the impact on the child's contact arrangements. Legal aid may be available in some local authority cases.

Alcohol testing serves as a crucial tool in family law, providing objective evidence to help courts make decisions that prioritise the best interests and safety of children. Understanding the different types of tests, their capabilities, and the legal implications is vital for anyone involved in such proceedings.