You might think that a financial settlement (often called a divorce settlement) would normally be thrown out after, say, 10 years of living apart.
But it seems not. In a case where the couple had been married for only 4 years and then separated for 22 years, the wife recently won a divorce settlement of £220,000
She hadn't pursued a divorce before due to her wish to avoid the "anguish" of it but it seems this fear had disappeared by the time he inherited a large sum.
It was apparently said in the case "if the need can be met without injustice to the husband, and without preventing him from meeting his own needs, then the court should strive to meet the need of the wife."
The moral of the story? I think it is do not delay a divorce without considering the financial implications and at least do get a separation agreement.
But, should wives (or husbands) be able to make a claim after nearly quarter of a century apart?
Andrew Woolley
Divorce Solicitor