I’m delighted to announce that DK Divorce Consultants is a Winner in the SME500 UK Awards 2024 as:
Best Divorce Support Service – UK
This is a recognition of the journey my business has taken over the past 3 1/2 years.
My name is David Kite. I got divorced in September 2020 and shortly afterwards I decided to set up my own business helping clients navigate their way through divorce. I realised, through the experience of my own divorce, that whilst solicitors have a valuable part to play in the legal aspects of divorce, there are several non-legal elements in the divorce process in which other specialists can play a valuable part. I felt that using experts in these different areas would ensure my clients obtained a better outcome, whilst retaining more control of the process and reducing confrontation and costs.
With over 35 years’ experience in Financial Services, in October 2020, I set up DK Divorce Consultants, to provide clients considering divorce in the Warwickshire and West Midland’s Area with a clear understanding of what financial life pre- and post-divorce might look like.
I offer a FREE 30-minute telephone consultation for potential clients to give me an understanding of why they are considering the break-up of their relationship and a brief summary of their financial situation.
If they then become clients, they then have a 2-hour meeting, via Zoom or Face-to-face so I can get a full picture of their:
- Personal Situation (address, employment position, spouse and children information)
- Financial Information (property valuations, mortgage information, savings and investments, previous employment pension information, for both the client and spouse as far as they are aware)
- Other Information (what they would ideally like from the divorce; access to children, what they may like to do with properties, whether they would like to share or keep their pension, and possibly an idea of what their spouse may want).
The information collected is then collated into one of our signature Divorce Preparation Packs (also known as Solicitor-Friendly Packs). We supply this to the client, and this is used as the point of reference moving forwards.
As the process progresses, any adjustments made are logged within this document as ideas start to form from discussions. The pack is incredibly useful for assisting in the facilitation of discussions between parties, whether formal mediation or informal discussion, and ultimately a discussion with a family solicitor when the time comes.
I initially started networking locally and built up a presence on LinkedIn. Over a few months I started getting clients from outside my local area, and in fact my second client lived in Saudi Arabia and found me via a Google search. This made me realise that rather than just being a business, serving my local community, it had the scope for greater geographical reach, and now most of my clients are outside my local area
Over time, I have built up excellent business relationships with Counsellors, Mediators, Mortgage Brokers, Financial Advisers and Solicitors from around the country as my business’s reputation spread.
In 2022 I won the SME News - Midlands Enterprise Awards - Best Divorce Support Service West Midlands. I was also Finalist in the 2022 Lloyds Business Excellence Awards in the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ category.
Over time, I realised that whilst there are a growing number of Divorce Consultants around, most specialise in the legal or emotional aspects of divorce and that coming from a financial background, I have a unique skill set. I am now utilising this to give my clients a more complete service; helping with completion of Form E, forensically analysing their spouse’s Form E documentation and also helping clients to prepare Financial Proposals to present to their spouses.
I have helped to remove financial worries from my clients and enabled them to obtain thousands of pounds more in their financial settlements, by identifying hidden assets like Cryptocurrency and ensuring that the full value of share options and pensions are considered in negotiations over the family finances. Interestingly, some solicitors are now referring clients to me to assist with the financial aspects of their divorces.
I feel that my latest award, is a recognition of how far my business has come, the changes in direction it has taken, and the far greater range of services offered than when I first started. A massive thank you to whoever nominated me and to the superb team of experts who work with me and refer clients to me. None of this would be possible without your support.
I’m excited to see DK Divorce Consultants continue to grow over the coming years.
About the SME500 UK Awards
The SME500 UK Awards stand as a testament to the unsung heroes powering the UK's economy. We honour businesses and leaders like you, who set the bar higher in industry standards.
How We Chose You
Our unique and rigorous selection process sets the SME500 UK Awards apart:
Nomination & Voting: A meticulous combination of self-nominations and third-party endorsements.
Assessment: Candidates are evaluated based on domestic performance, innovation, growth metrics, and global impact.
Judging: Our independent panel of experts scrutinises each entry on several criteria including:
- Strategic relevance
- Operational complexity and scale
- Budget and timeline adherence
- Innovative approaches
Your strategic depth and innovative prowess stood out, making you a clear winner in your category. The panel places significant emphasis on the strategic depth and innovation driving your enterprise.