Janette Brooker

View Original

A case study of support from a divorce coach, lawyer and wealth advisor

Individuals going through divorce often need additional expert advice and support, particularly if there are financial assets to consider. I can guide clients to the right advice for them, giving them a full ‘triangle’ of support, as this case study details:

When I was introduced to Dana (not her real name) she had just returned from overseas. A friend told her that she must start to address her situation and thought I could help her.  After a very lengthy call I certainly felt Dana’s pain and so wanted to help her.  We agreed to start with a 2-hour Coaching session and after that 60-minute sessions until Dana felt confident that she no longer needed my services.

 After 19 years of marriage, following her Managing Director husband around the world, her husband had announced that he was setting up home with his much younger P.A. The betrayal was painful, as Dana had confided in and trusted this person, and Dana could not think clearly or feel proactive about anything. Dana’s immediate feeling was to flee the country that had been her home for the last 9 years, and return to the UK where both her girls were in boarding school

 Despite feeling anger and resentment, Dana was hoping that her husband was going through a passing phase.  Not wanting to unsettle her daughters whilst at school she went about trying to mask her hurt and pain and put on a front to all those that she knew.  The overwhelm that she felt regarding her life and assets and an inability to see how life could be any other way started to weigh down on her.

Worry over financial assets

 The very comfortable life that Dana had led during her marriage and the various homes around the world had thrown a security blanket around her.  The fact that her husband’s PA had handled most of the running costs of these very homes all of a sudden seemed a terrible twist of fate. The worry started to manifest and over these first few months and Dana felt totally incapable of moving forward.

 The first Coaching session was very much focussed on her current situation, the reality and how she was going to move forward and start to action what was needed to take control of her life again.  Her immense feeling of trying to ignore the reality and make things right rather than initiate change slowed things down.  However, working on her own self-belief and breaking the situation down and looking at it as small steps eased the overwhelm.

Seek expert advice

After a few sessions it was apparent that Dana should speak to someone regarding the wealth side of the divorce and due to her fragile state thought I could introduce her to Mark Estcourt from the Cavendish Family Office. As her wealth was distributed in various overseas countries the enormity of her situation needed expert advice.

Mark worked with Dana on all aspects that required careful attention and in doing so she gained more confidence.  It really was a case of knowledge is power. 

A triangle of support

It was once the whole financial aspect of her divorce was meticulously planned that she felt the confidence to file for divorce and instruct the lawyers, the final piece to the triangle.

With Danas confidence and clarity in place and her organisation of assets defined she went on to achieve the best possible outcome.