Remember, though, in order for them to be legally effective, many of these protections must be in place years before the possibility of divorce is even on the horizon.

FORBES: Five Steps a Woman Can Take to Help Her Family-Run Business Survive Divorce

The peers said that while the UK could theoretically make alternative arrangements with EU states, they would be legally more complicated, expensive and less effective, thereby weakening the hand of British police.

BBC: EU crime optouts 'could damage UK crime fighting'