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Could the UK’s largest divorce award have been bigger?
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Henry Hood Partner and Head of the Family Law Department
Hunters Solicitors
The case last week of
AAZ v BBZ C Ltd & P Ltd represents the largest award ever made by the divorce court (although it has approved larger settlements reached through agreement). Although the applicant wife won on every point in issue and despite the husband failing to appear or be represented at the trial she did not receive a full 50% of the marital assets. Does the judgment reveal why?
Before he left the field the husband had filed evidence that identified defences to the claim. The lawyers acting for the wife also reviewed points that C Ltd and P Ltd (who played no part in the litigation at all) could have made had they been present. Accordingly with the exception of conduct the case constitutes a veritable checklist of the factors that can be reasons for departure from equality of division.
Variously the judge (Haddon-Cave J not a regular in the Family Division) found that none of the wealth was created before the marriage...
Read the full article here.
