Marriage and divorce

When thinking about marriage or divorce, tax probably won't be one of the first things that spring to mind. But as a US citizen living in the UK, different life stages like these can come with added complexity. Here's what you need to know about marriage and divorce, from the US/UK tax, financial planning and legal experts.Step one: Pre-marriage planning – prenuptial agreements, US filing status and transfer taxes. Step two: Marriage – financial planning options, remittance basis, asset ownership, wills and estate planning.Step three: Divorce – legal process, transfer of assets, pensions sharing and returning to the US. Speakers: Carlo Gray is a Partner at Buzzacott,  a top 25 UK accountancy firm based in London, which specialises in US and UK tax, financial planning, business services and audit. He has a wealth of experience managing both the US and UK tax affairs of high-net-worth individuals, small business owners, senior executives and partners in partnerships, with a particular niche in the financial services field. Sarah Whitelaw is a Partner at Buzzacott and works on all things concerning US and UK tax returns, IRS streamlined submissions, expatriation and foreign tax credit planning. She has significant experience working with family lawyers to advise on the tax consequences of divorce where one or both spouses are US persons.Rachel O’Donoghue is a Partner and the Head of Financial Planning at Buzacott.  She provides independent, whole of market advice to private clients in areas such as investments, pensions, estate planning and lifetime cashflows. Although she has a broad range of clients, Rachel has particular experience in the provision of advice to individuals who are non-domiciled, UK resident US persons.Will MacFarlane is a Partner in the Family and Divorce team at Kingsley Napley, which for over 80 years has been recognised for providing the highest quality legal advice and services. Will advises clients on the full range of family law issues arising on the breakdown of relationships. He has a particular interest in resolving complex financial claims often with an international element. He also advises on arrangements for children following the breakdown of a relationship. On the non-contentious side, Will is frequently instructed by families to advise on wealth protection issues and nuptial and cohabitation agreements. Plan your next stepIf you’re a US citizen living in the UK or you’re planning to move here, there are a number of important life stages you will need to plan for. With a good plan and the right advice, you’ll be ready for any challenge or opportunity life might throw at you while you’re in the UK. Our Stepping Stones series brings together leading advisers from various areas of expertise, to provide you with the need-to-knows for each step of your unique journey in the UK.www.buzzacott.co.uk/stepping-stones