# Financial support during your divorce > Financial support during your divorce covers maintenance pending suit, legal services payment orders and litigation funding while proceedings are ongoing. Last updated: 2026-11-12 # Financial support during a divorce Divorce proceedings can take months, and sometimes longer. Where most of the family’s income or wealth sits with the other spouse, the one without access to it may need support while the case is ongoing, both to meet day-to-day living costs and to take part in the proceedings on an equal footing. Rushton Family Law advises on the options available, whether you are seeking support or being asked to provide it. ### Financial support during a divorce at a glance - If the family’s income or wealth sits mainly with your spouse, you may be able to get support while the case is ongoing. - Maintenance pending suit covers reasonable living costs until the final settlement. - A legal services payment order (LSPO) requires one spouse to contribute to the other’s legal costs. - Litigation lending can fund the case where wealth exists but can’t be accessed, with the loan repaid from the settlement. - Interim support ends once the final settlement is in place. [Book my free consultation](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/contact) ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2850/174-33-def/rushton-family-law-white.png) #### Specialist Divorce and Family Lawyers Rushton provides discreet representation for divorce, financial settlements, and arrangements for children. We treat every case with the care it deserves, without losing sight of what actually needs to get done. [Contact us](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/contact) When it really matters # Getting advice on financial support during your divorce We start by looking at how the family’s finances are held and who has access to them, along with your current income and outgoings and the likely length and cost of the proceedings. From there, we will advise you on which route is right, and on whether support can be agreed without an application to court. #### Maintenance pending suit Maintenance pending suit is interim maintenance paid by one spouse to the other while the divorce and financial proceedings are ongoing. It is designed to cover reasonable living costs until the final settlement is in place. The court looks at each spouse’s income, needs and standard of living when deciding whether to make an order and how much. #### Legal services payment orders A legal services payment order (LSPO) requires one spouse to pay towards the other’s legal costs. Courts make them where one spouse can’t otherwise obtain legal representation, for example because the family’s assets are held in the other spouse’s name or tied up in a business, so that both sides can take part in the proceedings fairly. #### Litigation lending Where wealth is substantial but can’t be accessed during the proceedings, specialist litigation funding may be an option. This usually means a loan that is repaid from the eventual settlement. We advise on whether it is appropriate and how it fits with the other options. #### When the settlement is finalised Interim support ends once the final settlement is in place. At that point, any ongoing support is dealt with as part of the settlement itself, through spousal maintenance or a clean break. RELATED SERVICES [Financial settlements](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/services/finances/financial-settlements) [Spousal maintenance](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/services/finances/spousal-maintenance) [Child maintenance](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/services/child-maintenance) [Enforcing, changing and challenging child arrangement orders]() RELATED GUIDES [The family home](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/the-family-home) [Businesses](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/businesses) [Salary, bonuses, and shares](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/salary-bonuses-and-shares) [Pensions](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/pensions) [Inheritance and gifts](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/inheritance-and-gifts) [Financial disclosure](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/financial-disclosure) [Consent orders and clean breaks](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/consent-orders-and-clean-breaks) [Money from parents and family](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/money-from-parents-and-family) [The financial court process](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/the-financial-court-process) [Debts in divorce](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/debts-in-divorce) [Tax in divorce](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/tax-in-divorce) [How the court decides a financial settlement](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/how-the-court-decides-a-financial-settlement) [Mesher orders](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/mesher-order) [Hidden assets](https://cms.rushtonfamilylaw.com/guide/hidden-assets) 01 #### Disclosure Both of you give full details of your finances, usually on a Form E. 02 #### Valuation Property, pensions and any businesses are valued, by independent experts where needed. 03 #### Negotiation Proposals are exchanged directly, or through mediation, arbitration, or a private hearing. 04 #### A binding order The agreement is recorded in a consent order and approved by the court, ideally with a clean break. ### Our Team Our team of specialist family solicitors offer expert advice in proportion to what’s at stake for you. We advise on all areas of family law and bring the same care and high standard to every family we work with. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/3099/398-535-def/nicola-398x535.jpg) [Nicola Jones](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/team/nicola-jones) [Partner - Divorce & Family](https://) ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/3100/398-535-def/amie-398x535.jpg) Amie Pine Partner - Divorce & Family ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/3139/398-535-def/emma-398x535.jpg) Emma Shortland Associate ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/3116/398-535-def/ella-398x535.jpg) Ella Perry Assistant Solicitor ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/3107/398-535-def/samantha-398x535.jpg) Samantha Patel Legal Support Assistant ### Reviews and testimonials ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) Firstly, Amie Pine. This particular solicitor is an absolute master of her craft. She's knowledgeable, caring, understandable, professional and always one step ahead ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) The second person I would like to mention in my review is Emma Shortland. Her knowledge of the law is incredible. Please don't let her age put you off, as upon those very young shoulders is a very wise head. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) Amie was brilliant helping me through and managing my divorce financials both professionally and personally, cannot recommend enough, thanks again Amie! ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) I recently went through a difficult divorce, and I cannot express enough gratitude for the exceptional service provided by my solicitor, Amie Pine. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) From the very beginning, Amie provided clear, concise guidance and her expertise, professionalism, and compassion made a significant difference during this challenging time. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) Amie was always available to answer my questions, no matter how trivial they seemed, and provided reassurance during the most stressful moments. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) Amie was not only a legal advisor but also a pillar of support, helping me navigate the emotional and financial aspects. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) Thank you, Amie, for making a difficult time more manageable and for helping me move forward with my life. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) Amie Pine has helped me get through a financially and emotionally challenging divorce with great empathy, expert advice and the utmost professionalism. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) She is always responsive and worked quickly to ensure the matter progressed despite the other party's delays and unreasonable demands. Thank you Amie - it's been a real pleasure having you represent me. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) Nicola and the team are the best support you could ask for at the most difficult of times. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) As well as being knowledgeable, forward thinking, organised and hard-working, [Nicola] has empathy and goes above and beyond for her clients. ![](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/asset/2562/193-32-def/stars.png) I feel safer and not alone, knowing that I have Nicola's support - securing her to act for me was a huge weight lifted. No matter what the result, I am confident that she will have secured the best outcome possible. ### outstanding legal representation when it really matters ### FAQs #### Who pays the bills while we are separating? There’s no automatic rule, and whoever is named on a bill or the mortgage remains liable to the provider or lender. Most couples agree a temporary arrangement, and if that isn’t possible, the court can order interim maintenance. #### Who pays the legal costs in financial proceedings? Usually, each of you pays your own. The court can order one party to pay the other’s costs where they have behaved unreasonably, for example by refusing to negotiate or failing to disclose their finances. #### What can I do if my spouse is hiding assets? Both of you have a legal duty to give full financial disclosure, and the court can order further disclosure and draw conclusions against a spouse who doesn’t comply. If assets are being moved to defeat your claim, an urgent freezing injunction may be possible. #### What can I do if my spouse is spending money before the settlement? If assets are being spent or moved to reduce your claim, the court can step in. It can make a freezing injunction, or treat money that has been wasted as if it were still available when dividing the finances. #### Can I stop my spouse selling assets during a divorce? Yes, if they’re selling to put assets out of your reach. The court can make an order preventing the sale, and in some cases can reverse a transaction that has already happened. #### Should I move out of the family home during a divorce? Not without taking advice first. Moving out doesn’t mean giving up your share of the home, but it can affect arrangements for your children and your practical position. If you feel unsafe, your safety comes first, and there are orders that can help. #### Can my spouse make me leave the family home? Not without a court order. Both spouses usually have the right to stay in the family home until the finances are resolved, whoever owns it, and only the court can require one of you to leave, through an occupation order. ### How we work An experienced family solicitor will run your matter from the first meeting onwards, and you will deal with them directly rather than being passed between members of a team. Part of their job is to help you decide where your time and money are best spent. In most divorces there are points worth pressing and points that make little difference to the end result, and we will be straightforward with you about which is which. A lot of matters are resolved through negotiation or mediation, and where that is realistic we will recommend it. Where it is not, because the other side will not engage, or disclosure is incomplete, or the issues are genuinely contested, we will advise you on taking the matter to court and act for you there. **Rushton Family Law is the sister brand of Vardags. If your case involves complex finances or international issues, we will introduce you to the Vardags team.** [Book a consultation](#callback) ### Request a confidential call Please share a few details about your circumstances and one of our specialist family lawyers will contact you at a convenient time. If a telephone call is not suitable, please let us know your preferred method of contact. [Get in touch](https://rushtonfamilylaw.com/contact)