A recent case should stand as a warning to those trying to settle their financial issues through the Court. There were 2 issues arising and commented on by the Judge. The first re-emphasised that deliberate non-disclosure by a party of their financial position, even if relatively minor, will be punished by costs penalties, but he has also made clear in this judgment that the parties are required to negotiate once all the facts of the case are known. This decision underlines the fact that it is absolutely crucial for reasonable offers to be made on an open basis once the financial landscape of a case is clear. Not doing so will only lead to punishment by the courts further down the line.