27 June 2011
Kluge debt? Get advice fast!
The story that Patricia Kluge, who was once known as “the wealthiest divorcee in history”, has declared herself bankrupt has underlined the importance of receiving joined up legal and financial advice not only upon divorce but also on an ongoing basis.
25 May 2011
A matter of trust...continued
If ever a reminder were needed about the wide ranging powers and discretion of the English court in divorce proceedings, it came yesterday in the Judgment given by the Court of Appeal in the case of Whaley.
20 April 2011
WHSmith - shopping for divorce
WHSmith (WHS) has announced plans to provide ‘in-store’ legal advice which is likely to include family law. The backdrop is the implementation of the Legal Services Act which comes into effect in October. This seeks to de-regulate the provision of legal services which will no longer be the preserve of traditional law firms and so ‘alternative business structures’ will be licensed to provide legal services. WHS (in common with others e.g. Tesco) plan to offer legal advice in conjunction with new businesses set up for the purpose e.g. QualitySolicitors (a franchise of small rebranded law firms).
11 April 2011
London – Still the Divorce Capital of the World?
The Court of Appeal have upheld an award of £2.8 million to a 27 year old wife after a two year marriage. Both parties are Russian and lived in a £4 million property in Kensington. The husband is 26 and the parties have a two year old daughter. The husband contested the lower Court’s decision on the basis it was disproportionate to the length of the marriage, the majority of his wealth emanated from his parents and the English Courts had no jurisdiction.
8 February 2011
What's mine is yours...depending on what it is and when I got it.
In the recent case of JvJ, the Court of Appeal gave guidance on the treatment of non matrimonial assets, which in this case was a company that the Husband had acquired and operated for 10 years before the marriage. The Wife accepted that she should have a lower than 50% share of the total assets and the Husband accepted the Wife should have an equal share of the matrimonial assets.