In the recent case of Standish v Standish, the court ordered a huge reduction in the wife’s award of £45 million to £25 million on the basis of the husbands contribution to the marriage with assets he owned before the parties relationship. Does this mean that in every...
settlement
Cheat’s Charter or Human Right?
The rules on using private information in divorce proceedings In financial proceedings in divorce in England and Wales, there is an absolute rule of comprehensive and ongoing disclosure of finances so that it is possible to negotiate a settlement or make an order...
Why do I have to pay my divorce solicitor when the marriage breakdown is all my spouse’s fault ?
Sarah was shocked to discover that her husband had been having an affair, with an entirely separate family with children, while he was away on business. She felt betrayed and angry - all the more so when her divorce lawyer explained that she would have to pay their...
The Art of Negotiation – Turning Court Proceedings into Constructive Solutions
#3 in a series of commentaries from the family law Courtroom. No names obviously, but a focus on the mechanics of many cases, which illustrate the many “routes to goal” available to the experienced family lawyer, seeking the most efficient and economic solution for...
Family Law Courtroom Chronicles: The Reality of Financial Orders in Divorce
#1 in a series of commentaries from the family law Courtroom. No names obviously, but a focus on the mechanics of many cases, which makes this experienced family lawyer despair of the system. FACT: Judges base their financial orders after a long marriage on the...
My husband has control of all the money -how can I challenge him in our divorce?
Eleanor was devastated when her husband of 30 years told her that he wanted a divorce. As a stay-at-home mum of four now adult children, she had been devoted to the home and family management as well as organising the inevitable social life which came with her husband...
Is a divorce lawyer worth it?
Now that we have online no-fault divorce - why do you need a divorce lawyer? That’s just what Mat thought when he separated from his wife of 20 years. He expected to be able to do it all easily online in a few months. But it didn’t work out that way. He didn’t realise...
Getting to a fair deal in divorce – even when you think that’s impossible
Everyone wants their divorce to be as painless as possible. But they also want a fair deal. How do you square that circle if you know nothing about the finances or one of you insists they have a right to more than seems fair, or the children’s needs seem to be...
Possession is not 9/10 of the law in divorce!
You do not automatically lose your rights over the family home if you move out. Particularly where property is owned by both or either of you, your name on the title, or a matrimonial home rights notice registered at the Land Registry, will protect your position until...