Government proposals to limit access to legal aid and encourage individuals to take out private insurance, recently announced by Kenneth Clarke, the Justice Secretary, could have a profound effect on the financial stability of divorced women.
As a result of the UK’s high divorce rate an increasing number of women find themselves in the situation of being reliant on their former partners to provide for themselves and their children. This financial lifeline can be broken for a number of reasons. The maintenance payer may become unemployed, be unable to work through serious illness or even die. Perhaps a change in circumstances has meant a change in financial priorities and paying maintenance is no longer one of them.
In the past a woman deprived of this much needed income would be at the mercy of the State with no alternative but to embark on a lengthy and often unsatisfactory route through Child Support Agency and Legal Aid. The Justice Minister, Jonathan Djanogly, has spoken to the Association of British Insurers to see how more people could be encouraged to take out insurance. He said: “Couples are too ready and too willing to run to the courts. We think there can be a wider market in before-the-event insurance. We would be creating a new market”.
Perhaps this highlights the strong need for maintenance protection insurance to become the automatic next step in divorce. The main advantage would be that money would be there for the professional fees, immediately, when the client needed it without having to rely on Legal Aid or the CSA.
“New Start” is the brainchild of Suffolk based Henry Glasse who, with 26 years experience in insurance, has become increasingly aware of a gap in the market. “It’s bad enough going through divorce but still being dependent on your former husband for your income is humiliating and worrying, especially in these uncertain times”, says Mr. Glasse. “New Start” reduces that uncertainty and allows divorced women to regain the independence and security they want and deserve”.
“New Start” is a unique package offering protection in the event of the maintenance payer being unable to pay. This covers illness, disability, death, unemployment, redundancy and, perhaps more crucially, wilful default. A free legal helpline is also provided for additional support. Free quotes are given online, with no need for medicals or financial details, and cover can be in place within 24 hours. There is also a 30 day money back guarantee if the client has a change of heart.
In an ideal world no divorce should be processed without it.
Author: “New Start”
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