A recent article in the Daily Telegraph has revealed some interesting statistics on record divorce settlements across Britain. Although divorce should only be the final course of action in any relationship breakdown, for many, it may be the only solution for both parties to move forward in their lives, both mentally and physically. Many of the cases highlighted in this article may have taken some time to reach a conclusion based on the vast sum of monies involved. However, they do demonstrate that satisfactory settlements and agreements can be achieved over time with the right legal support enabling everyone to move on with their lives.
Amongst the higher divorce settlements to former wives cited by the Telegraph included familiar names such as Boris Berezovsky’s settlement of up to £220 million, John Charman’s settlement of £48 million, Phil Collins’ £25 million settlement with his second wife and an earlier payment of £17 million to his first wife. There was then the highly publicised case where Paul McCartney finally settled to pay £24.3 million instead of Linda’s request for £125 million. Martin Sorrell also settled for £30 million, Mark Dixon for £28 million, Chris Tarrant for £12.5 million and of course, rock star, Mick Jagger’s settlement to Jerry Hall for £10 million. Indeed, these are rather generous settlements.
For celebrities and the general public alike, divorce can, of course, be triggered by so many different factors adding pressure to relationships. It is important to remember that divorce in the UK is still guided by the law and everyone is required to follow a sequential set of steps within certain time limits. It is important also that before any petition for a divorce is made, the couple must have been married for at least one year. The divorce ‘petitioner’ must also prove that the marriage has broken down irretrievably and based on one or more of the following: adultery, unreasonable behaviour, separation or five years separation.
Under all circumstances, when a decision is made that divorce is the only option to move forward, it is best to seek advice from Resolution Solicitor as soon as possible to establish your rights and potential entitlements and to ascertain the best way for moving forward. At Verisona, the specialist family team has broad experience of divorce and any associated complications such as child and financial matters and any disagreements between parties. The team fully understands the stress and complexity associated with divorce and can offer specialist advice and meaningful assistance on the steps to take according to each individual circumstances.
