Nowhere to Hide in Divorce

A recent article in The Telegraph reported on a divorce case in which the perceived dishonesty of the Husband during the court proceedings has resulted in the divorce settlement being re-opened by the courts.
During the divorce process both spouses are required by the court to provide full and frank financial disclosure to each other – this is the first stage of the process. If provided it means that the court, and both spouses, should clearly be able to see what assets there are available to be distributed. This is essential as without this knowledge it is impossible to reach a decision as to what would be a fair settlement.

As in the case reported, a discovery after a financial settlement has been made that all was not as it was portrayed can mean that the court will allow further investigation into those finances. If assets have been “hidden” this can mean that the original settlement will be overruled.

We are a team of specialist family law solicitors in Manchester. For more divorce advice please read our family law blog or follow us on Twitter @Divorce_experts

Katy Stirling, Solicitor

Divorce Location, Location, Location

Earlier this week, Boris Johnson made a plea for billionaires' wives to sue for divorce in London.

It is reported that the Mayor said "I have no shame in saying to the injured spouses of the world's billionaires if you want to take him to the cleaners... take him to the cleaners in London."

Mr Johnson’s comments seem to flow from a desire to generate business for the city but they do reinforce the widely held belief that England is one of the most generous jurisdictions in the world for a financially weaker spouse. In particular, some judges in London are thought to grant more generous maintenance awards to spouses than judges in the North of England. This is a topic which my colleague, Fiona Wood explores in more detail in her recent blog in the Huffington Post.

The resolution of financial matters on divorce in this jurisdiction is a matter of discretion and fairness. Unlike other jurisdictions around the world, the court does not apply a mathematical formula but instead must consider a checklist of factors which is applied to each case individually. The ultimate aim of the court is to achieve “fairness” and it may therefore take some circumstances into account that other jurisdictions would ignore.

When considering divorce, the choice of jurisdiction and the choice of court within that jurisdiction can have a fundamental effect on the overall settlement achieved. This is one of the reasons why seeking early advice from a specialist Family solicitor is so important.


We are a team of specialist Family law solicitors in Manchester. For more divorce advice please read our family law blog or follow us on Twitter @Divorce_experts



Naomi McGloin

BOJO, BILLIONAIRES AND DIVORCE

It seems that London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson, is never far from the headlines.

He has even been quoted inviting the unhappy spouses of foreign billionaires to have the cases concerning their divorce settlements heard in London.

Even though it may have been tongue-in-cheek, his remarks underlined that city’s status as the world’s divorce capital as well as the increasingly international and sometimes complex nature of modern relationships.

It’s a topic which my colleague Fiona Wood has written about in an article for the Huffington Post
Regardless of wealth or nationality, divorce is a delicate process for everyone and it is reassuring to be able to count on divorce advice from specialist solicitors who can help you and your family.

To arrange a discussion with one of the Pannone family lawyers, click here .
For more advice and insight, you can also read our family law blog or follow us on Twitter @Divorce_experts.