Ex Wife claims 20 years after divorce

Most Marshall Hall Levy clients will have heard TV and Radio reports and have read Newspaper articles about a former wife who claimed capital from her former husband almost 20 years after they were divorced. After the separation and divorce the former husband had created a Telecoms business worth many millions.

The former wife applied almost 20 years after they separated and were divorced for financial provision and she was granted leave by the Supreme Court to make that application. The substantive argument concerning how much money the former wife will gain is subject to ongoing proceedings.

This is not an unusual situation because here at Marshall Hall Levy we represented a man who separated from his wife then years ago and at that time he received a very small amount of money which enabled him to put a deposit down on a house he bought in his sole name. The client instructed Marshall Hall Levy to commence divorce proceedings. The Decree Absolute was successfully obtained. Subsequently the client instructed Marshall Hall Levy to make an application with regard to the outstanding financial issues.

Unfortunately this client's former wife failed to respond to attempts to negotiate and to mediate and the client was left with no alternative to make an application to the Court. That application achieved a successful outcome and the client received a significant capital sum from his former wife.

The moral of both applications is that separating and/or divorcing couples should regularise their financial position in writing having instructed solicitors.