Basis of asset calculations

Could anyone explain the principle lying behind the calculations in 'Processing Assets'? For instance, what does the 10% increase for each year of marriage relate to? Surely the increase in value of the assets has already been taken account of?

I also thought that in a longer marriage (8 years) the starting point was a 50/50 split, rather than a calculation based upon the pre-existing assets? The outcome - 60:40 in my favour - is gratifying, but I just wonder how realistic it is?

Also, the help menu for the 'General Info' section says 'enter your current ages', but there doesn't seem to be any box in which to do this.

Where is the 'full help' guide that is referred to?

Cefnhir,

Re:The 10% transfer for each year of marriage.

Assets acquired during marriage are joint.

Assets held before marriage are:
1) Kept by the individual in case of very short marriages.
2) Fully part of the joint pot for long marriages.

So somewhere between a short and long marriage .... what were individual assets (held pre marriage) are deemed to gradually become joint assets over the course of the marriage. And after 10 years they are totally joint assets.

Consider a 100k house owned by husband pre marriage. The 10% per year transfer results in this....

After 1 year:...90K belongs to H..10K is joint
After 2 years:...80K belongs to H..20K is joint
After 3 years:...70K belongs to H..30K is joint
After 4 years:...60K belongs to H..40K is joint
After 5 years:...50K belongs to H..50K is joint
After 6 years:...40K belongs to H..60K is joint
After 7 years:...30K belongs to H..70K is joint
After 8 years:...20K belongs to H..80K is joint
After 9 years:...10K belongs to H..90K is joint
After 10 years:...0K belongs to H..100K is joint

The above is a benchmark/approximation....there is no fixed law on this 10% figure.....it is just the best the calc can do.


50/50 is the starting point for asset split.

But where needs of the parties exceed the available assets then the asset split can be skewed towards the financially weaker party....typically the housewife with the kids.

So 60:40, 70:30 are quite common.

That's really helpful - thanks!

Could you also explain something about the maintenance calculation. In my case it has decided that no maintenance is due, but it talks about both my wife and I having to reduce our budget to £0 - what's that about?

Did you have any insight into the apparent absence of a question about age on the calculator and where the 'full help' guide is?

That's really helpful - thanks!

Could you also explain something about the maintenance calculation. In my case it has decided that no maintenance is due, but it talks about both my wife and I having to reduce our budget to £0 - what's that about?

Did you have any insight into the apparent absence of a question about age on the calculator and where the 'full help' guide is?