Spousal Maintenance Solicitors in London

: Written by: Arshad Mahmood; Last Updated: 13 May 2026

At Premium Solicitors, our experienced divorce and family law solicitors provide expert legal advice and representation for spousal maintenance claims in England and Wales. We understand that financial security after separation or divorce is one of the most important concerns for spouses, especially where there is a significant difference in income, earning capacity, or financial dependency during the marriage.

Our specialist family law solicitors can assist you in negotiating, reviewing, enforcing, or varying spousal maintenance arrangements to ensure that any financial settlement is fair, practical, and legally sound.

What is Spousal Maintenance?

Spousal maintenance, also known as periodical payments, is financial support paid by one spouse or former spouse to the other following separation or divorce. The purpose of spousal maintenance is to help the financially weaker party meet their reasonable living expenses when they cannot immediately become financially independent.

Spousal maintenance may be agreed to voluntarily by the spouses or ordered by the Family Court as part of a divorce financial settlement.

When Can Spousal Maintenance Be Ordered?

The court may consider ordering spousal maintenance where:

One spouse earns significantly more than the other
One spouse sacrificed career opportunities during the marriage
One party has limited earning capacity
There are childcare responsibilities affecting employment
One spouse cannot maintain a reasonable standard of living after divorce without financial support
The marriage was long-term and financial dependency developed during the relationship

The court will carefully assess whether spousal maintenance is necessary and, if so, how much should be paid and for how long.

Factors Considered by the Court

When deciding spousal maintenance matters, the Family Court considers several factors under Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, including:

Income, earning capacity, and financial resources of both parties
Financial needs and obligations of each spouse
Standard of living enjoyed during the marriage
Age of the parties
Length of the marriage
Contributions made by each spouse
Physical or mental disabilities
Future earning potential
Welfare of any dependent children

Every case is unique, and the outcome depends on the specific circumstances of the marriage and the financial position of both parties.

Types of Spousal Maintenance

Our divorce and family law solicitors at Premium Solicitors can advise you regarding different forms of spousal maintenance, including:

Interim Maintenance

Interim maintenance, also known as maintenance pending suit, is temporary financial support paid while divorce proceedings are ongoing.

Fixed-Term Maintenance

Maintenance may be ordered for a specific period to allow the receiving spouse time to become financially independent.

Joint Lives Maintenance

In some cases, maintenance may continue until one party dies, remarries, or a further court order is made.

Nominal Maintenance

The court may order a nominal amount to keep future claims open where financial circumstances could change later.

Can Spousal Maintenance Be Changed?

Yes. Spousal maintenance orders can sometimes be varied if there is a significant change in circumstances, such as:

Loss of employment
Increase or decrease in income
Retirement
Illness or disability
New financial commitments
Changes in childcare arrangements

Our family law solicitors at Premium Solicitors can assist with applications to increase, reduce, extend, or terminate spousal maintenance orders.

Enforcement of Spousal Maintenance Orders

If your former spouse fails to make maintenance payments, you may be able to take enforcement action through the Family Court. Our solicitors can assist with enforcement proceedings to recover unpaid maintenance and protect your financial interests.

Spousal Maintenance and Clean Break Orders

In some divorce cases, the court may decide that a clean break settlement is appropriate. A clean break order ends ongoing financial claims between spouses so that neither party remains financially dependent on the other.

Our solicitors can advise on whether ongoing spousal maintenance or a clean-break financial settlement would be more appropriate in your circumstances.

Specialist Spousal Maintenance Solicitors

Our spousal maintenance solicitors are specialists in dealing with spousal maintenance matters. As one of the best spousal maintenance solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients with spousal maintenance matters. Our highly experienced and fully qualified spousal maintenance solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable advice and legal representation for your spousal maintenance matter.

The high quality of legal services provided by our best team of divorce and family law solicitors is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients. Our London-based divorce and family law solicitors are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, offering unwavering dedication and exceptional legal support for a wide range of divorce and family law cases. Our team of highly regarded divorce and family law solicitors brings more than 5 decades of collective, specialised expertise to successfully handle divorce and family law matters.

Meet Our Team of Spousal Maintenance Solicitors in London

At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our spousal maintenance solicitors in London. We understand that divorce and family law matters are life-changing events, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the legal process with professionalism and care.

Our team comprises a diverse group of spousal maintenance solicitors, each bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your needs.