Separation, Divorce and Finances ================================ Going through a separation or divorce can feel like one of life's biggest challenges. Our leading team of divorce and family lawyers is here to guide you through the process with clarity and compassion, ensuring your interests are protected every step of the way with discretion, expertise, and unwavering support. One of the most difficult aspects of separation or divorce is understanding how to divide finances fairly. It is crucial to understand which matrimonial property regime applies, as this dictates how assets are handled upon divorce. While the "community of property" (comunione legale) is the default system in Italy, spouses can formally opt for a "separation of property" (separazione dei beni) regime. Under this arrangement, each spouse maintains exclusive ownership of all assets acquired during the marriage. Consequently, upon separation, there is no joint marital estate to be divided, which greatly simplifies the financial settlement process. Each party retains their own property, although obligations concerning spousal and child support are assessed independently based on legal criteria. --- [REQUEST A FOLLOW-UP](https://vardags.com/it-en/contact/consultation "REQUEST A FOLLOW-UP") HOW CAN VARDAGS HELP YOU? -------------------------- Strategic Separation and Divorce Representation: - Whether you are initiating proceedings or responding to a petition, we provide tailored strategies to protect your interests, explain your options and help you make informed decisions. Financial Settlements: Dividing assets and securing your financial future is a critical part of any separation or divorce. The process can be complex, involving not just property but also maintenance agreements, business interests, and international holdings. - A key step in the process is the dissolution of the legal communion of assets (comunione legale). It is important to understand that this does not happen at the beginning of the legal proceedings, but rather at a precise moment: either when the court president authorises the spouses to live separately or upon the signing of a consensual separation agreement. - From that point on, any assets that were held in the comunione legale transition into a state of ordinary co-ownership (comunione ordinaria), subject to division that is typically done in equal parts. Maintenance: Beyond asset division, spousal support is a central issue. Italian law distinguishes between two types of maintenance: - Separation Maintenance (Assegno di mantenimento): This is based on the principle of marital solidarity and aims to preserve, as much as possible, the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage. However, the right to receive this maintenance is permanently lost if the recipient enters a new, stable cohabiting relationship that mirrors a marital bond. - Divorce Maintenance (Assegno divorzile): This is not tied to the previous standard of living. Instead, it is determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors including the spouses' economic conditions, the duration of the marriage, each person's contribution to the family's life and assets, and the objective ability of the receiving spouse to become self-sufficient. In some cases, this can be settled with a one-off lump-sum payment (una tantum). Child Arrangements: - Where children are involved, our lawyers prioritise their welfare while guiding you through the most practical solutions for living and contact arrangements. International and Complex Cases: - Our team is experienced in cross-border disputes, jurisdictional issues, and enforcement of orders worldwide. WHY CHOOSE VARDAGS? -------------------- When facing separation or divorce, choosing the right legal team can make all the difference. Vardags is one of the world's best family law firms, renowned for handling complex, cross-border and high-value cases. Our lawyers combine exceptional legal expertise with strategic insight to deliver outstanding results for our clients. If you are going through a separation or divorce, contact us for a free confidential consultation. We offer this consultation to suitable clients — wealthy individuals, successful entrepreneurs, professionals, and high-profile individuals with complex family matters. Our lawyers will take the time to understand the details of your unique situation, talk you through the next steps of the process, and give you unparalleled legal expertise from the very first conversation. Our mission is to protect what matters most: your lifestyle, your financial future, and your personal interests - especially when the stakes are at their highest. If you think you might need our help, don't delay - contact us before your spouse does. [BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION NOW](https://vardags.com/it-en/contact/consultation "BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION NOW") "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"![The Times](https://vardags.com/it-en/images/logo/thetimeslogo_white.png) "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/it-en/images/logo/bbc.png) "Vardags are both the Rolls Royce and the Ferrari of the family law world. The firm's strength and ability is remarkable. They take on unwinnable cases and win, they fight the unfightable and succeed and they relish the most complex and difficult of cases" ![Legal500](https://vardags.com/it-en/images/logo/legal-500.png) OUR TEAM -------- [### Ayesha Vardag](https://vardags.com/it-en/solicitors/milan/ayesha-vardag "Ayesha Vardag Founder & President Divorce & Family") [### Maria Fiorito](https://vardags.com/it-en/solicitors/milan/maria "Maria Fiorito Vardags Partner Family Law") [### Iacopo Tozzi](https://vardags.com/it-en/solicitors/florence/iacopo-tozzi "Iacopo Tozzi") [Founder & President](https://vardags.com/it-en/solicitors/milan/ayesha-vardag "Ayesha Vardag Founder & President Divorce & Family") [Partner - Dual Qualified (Italy & England)](https://vardags.com/it-en/solicitors/milan/maria "Maria Fiorito Vardags Partner Family Law") [Senior Consultant](https://vardags.com/it-en/solicitors/florence/iacopo-tozzi "Iacopo Tozzi") [### Ayesha Vardag Founder & President](https://vardags.com/it-en/solicitors/milan/ayesha-vardag "Ayesha Vardag Founder & President Divorce & Family")"Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." The Telegraph [### Maria Fiorito Partner - Dual Qualified (Italy & England) ](https://vardags.com/it-en/solicitors/milan/maria "Maria Fiorito Vardags Partner Family Law")"Leading lawyer at Vardags" La Repubblica [### Iacopo Tozzi Senior Consultant ](https://vardags.com/it-en/solicitors/florence/iacopo-tozzi "Iacopo Tozzi")"A formidably strong family law firm which acts in the most high-profile cases of the country" Legal 500 [Meet the rest of the team](https://vardags.com/it-en/team) Types of clients we serve ------------------------- ### WEALTHY INTERNATIONAL INDIVIDUALS We advise internationally mobile clients with personal, financial or business ties to Italy, alongside assets in the UK or other jurisdictions. These matters typically involve high-value cross-border wealth and offshore structures, requiring expertise in jurisdictional overlap. ### WEALTHY ITALIAN INDIVIDUALS We work with Italian individuals and families, from affluent professionals to aristocrats with generational wealth. These matters often involve domestic and international assets tied to family interests, reputation and long-term preservation. ### HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS We advise founders and entrepreneurs whose wealth is closely linked to privately held businesses, often across Italian and international markets. These matters typically involve shareholdings, valuation, ownership and ongoing enterprise. ### LEADING FINANCIERS, BUSINESSPEOPLE, AND PROFESSIONALS We act for globally-minded individuals at the highest levels of finance, business and professional life. These matters typically involve complex remuneration structures and investments shaped by corporate frameworks and personal holdings. ### HIGH PROFILE INDIVIDUALS We represent individuals with significant public visibility, including professional athletes, royalty, global influencers and public figures. These matters typically involve international assets, alongside heightened sensitivity around privacy, reputation and public scrutiny. OUR FULL RANGE OF SERVICES -------------------------- Our team of leading lawyers provides expert guidance to unmarried couples, particularly involving complex and cross-border cases. We provide specialised legal advice on topics including cohabitation and separation agreements, mediation, and assets tracing and valuation. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/it-en/services/unmarried-couples "Unmarried couples") Our team helps clients navigate divorce, including financial settlements, maintenance, and child arrangements. We also advise on cross-border cases and complex asset division, and international enforcement of orders. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/it-en/services/separation-divorce-finances "Separation, Divorce and Finances") International divorce involves complex issues of jurisdiction, applicable law, and recognition of foreign judgments. Vardags provides expert guidance on these matters, including financial strategy, asset tracing, and cross-border child arrangements. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/it-en/services/international-divorce "International divorce") Our legal team provides expert guidance for those seeking support with child maintenance, relocation and abduction. We offer specialised legal advice on areas including financial support, cross-border strategy, and court representation. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/it-en/services/children-arrangements "Children Arrangements") Vardags' leading lawyers help clients navigate inheritance, wills and probate, including cross-border succession planning, disputes and litigation, asset protection and tax strategy. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/it-en/services/inheritance-wills-probate "Inheritance, Wills and Probate")