Ex-husbands who don't pay up after divorce could face lose their driving licenses or passports

• The only penalty a wife can ask for now is for husband to get prison sentence
• Proposals mean husbands who don't pay could be banned from driving for a year
• It was also recommended that judges have powers to confiscate passports
• Justice Secretary Liz Truss will decide if these should form the basis of new laws

Reports in The Mail today, inform us that divorced men who try to wriggle out of paying off their ex-wives could face a driving ban.

Law reformers yesterday called for fresh sanctions against those who avoid paying divorce 

settlements ordered by the courts.

Among the penalties should be 12-month driving bans and the confiscation of passports, 

the Law Commission said.

The plan for husbands, and some wives, follows complaints that 'family financial orders' imposed 

in a divorce are frequently ignored, and that those who fail to pay cannot easily be punished.

At present the only penalty a wife can ask for if her former husband fails to pay up is a prison

sentence, but judges need a criminal standard of proof before they will send an unco-operative 

divorcee to jail, so the punishment is rarely enforced.

The Commission's recommendations mean a husband who has not paid could be disqualified from 

driving for a year. A court would return his licence if he handed over the money.

However, the report said, it would be self-defeating to impose a driving ban on someone who 

needed to drive to earn a living, because they would lose the ability to make the money to pay 

their former spouse.

So, it also recommended that judges should have powers to confiscate passports. Only UK 

passports should be taken, the report said, and they should be given back when the erring spouse 

pays up.

Read More

Brad Pitt files for joint custody of six children he shares with Angelina Jolie

It would seem that money doesn't buy you happiness, as reported in the Daily Mail this morning.

Pitt filed documents in a Los Angeles court on Friday afternoon
Has applied for both legal and physical custody of the children
It was the actor's first response to Jolie's September divorce filing
Jolie wants sole custody of the six children, who range in age from 8 to 15

Documents obtained by DailyMail.com show 52-year-old Pitt has asked for joint physical and legal custody of the six children he shares with Angelina Jolie.
It is the first time Pitt has sent in legal papers after his wife of two years asked for a divorce in September.
Jolie has applied for sole custody of the kids, meaning the legal battle between the two is heating up.
Neither have mentioned in their court filings whether they are seeking spousal or child support

Pitt states on the document that he is ending his marriage with Jolie over 'irreconcilable differences'.
He also lists the same separation date, September 15.
He then mentions his children - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox, and Vivienne - and puts down that he is seeking joint custody.
Jolie filed for divorce in a Los Angeles court September 19.
In the filing, she said she separated from her husband on September 15 – a day after the couple and son Maddox were involved in an alleged altercation on their private plane.
The actor was accused of physically attacking Maddox while drunk.
Child services in Los Angeles have launched an investigation into what happened.

The FBI has said it is gathering information before deciding whether to launch a federal probe into the allegations.
They interviewed Jolie for four hours after the alleged altercation, according to reports.
The actor has denied the claims.
Reports initially suggested that Pitt was seeking joint custody, and wanted to avoid a court battle.
A source recently told People that the pair were still trying to iron out differences during their acrimonious split.
'They are still working on issues that they can't agree on. It seems their issues still involve the kids,' the insider close to the family said.
'Brad and Angie haven't had any contact, and it's all being worked out via their teams,' said the family source recently. 'It's just a sad situation.'
Pitt and Jolie were together for 12 years after becoming close while filming 2005's 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith.'
When they weren't acting, the couple were seen as devoted parents and global philanthropists, creating a joint foundation in 2006.
Read more here

Happy 30th Aniversary Childline!

 

Having grown up watching Dame Esther Rantzen on That's Life I was delighted to meet her today, when we ended up blowing out candles on a cake we had sponsored for Childline who are celebrating 30 years of providing help, advice and support to children throughout Wales.

More than 50 people attended the event at the Senedd where the Minister for Social Services and Public Health Rebecca Evans was among those who joined Dame Esther in speaking to the audience.

Dame Esther spoke about her experience of setting up the service in 1986 and called on people to volunteer and help make a difference to children’s lives.

Dame Esther spoke about her experience of setting up the service in 1986 and called on people to volunteer and help make a difference to children’s lives.

Wales currently has 175 Childline volunteers across 2 bases in Cardiff and Prestatyn. Last year more than 7,600 children in Wales contacted the service seeking help, advice and support.

Love me Tinder – tales from the frontline of modern dating

As reported in The Guardian this week -
Blind dates and set-ups may be things of the past, but are the apps that have replaced them any
better?

Modern love is digitised. Letters and unrequited love have been replaced with modern iterations
(saucy pictures and ghosting). You do not go on blind dates, you go on dates with people whose
best photos you deem, at best, attractive and, at worst, passable. No one asks each other out in
person any more, probably.

There are merits and disadvantages to Tinder, Happn, Grindr, Bumble and the rest. They dismantle
the high stakes normally associated with the terror of asking someone out, but in doing so they
also cheapen the act. Post-Tinder, love feels disposable; people become something to consume.
This is what love online looks like.

‘I asked the first guy out after exchanging three sentences’
Libby, 27, customer services assistant

In January this year I downloaded Tinder, Bumble and Happn. It seemed like the only option to
meet someone these days if you don’t work with, or hang out with, men.

I asked the first guy out after exchanging approximately three sentences on Tinder. He announced
he was emigrating the moment we met. I realised we were mismatched after approximately three
minutes, anyway. He now lives in New York; I stayed in the country.
One evening I got chatting to someone: skip forward three hours and I had agreed to meet him in
central London. I stumbled up the stairs at Oxford Circus, spotted his bad shoes and realised
that I just wasn’t Samantha from Sex and the City. I promptly ran across the road and down
another entrance, and texted him to say: “I’m so sorry something has come up, I can’t make it
tonight.” He sent me a lovely response that it was totally OK and we should go for a drink
another night.

We did. He had just been diagnosed with ADHD and they were experimenting with his medication,
which tended to wear off at the end of the day, so he didn’t like to sit still for too long.

But I really liked how weird he was and was totally thrilled when he texted me the next morning:
“That was fun, we should do it again some time.” We did; three days later he hadn’t texted me. A
week later, I was drunk and I sent him a meme of Celine Dion letting go of Leonardo DiCaprio in
Titanic whispering, “Jack, I’ll never let go, Jack” because his name was Jack and I thought I
was hilarious.

The worst part of online dating is the first awkward face-to-face hello. Your preconception of
the person you have been speaking to is always very oddly different to whoever it is you meet.
And I also seem to make my mind up very quickly on how the night will go.
I once heard a story about a man who turns up to dates early and buys himself a drink, so that
when the girl arrives, he can send her up to the bar to get a drink and do a runner if he thinks
they aren’t up to his exacting standards. That’s almost a reason to give up.

One evening, I started speaking to a man – really interesting, engaging, all very effortless –
and after three hours of constant messaging, we arranged a drink for the next day. He asked for
my number – taking messaging off Tinder is a big deal – and then texted at 5pm to ask me where
we should go. I texted back suggesting a bar, washed my hair and never heard back from him.
For the full story click here.

Call me old fashioned but it would seem even Bridget Jones chose "the boy next door" eventually....or did she?

High Court judge uses emoji in official ruling

A recent article in The Telegraph caught my eye.
It is the kind of document in which one might expect to find daunting legal terminology,
interspersed with Latin phrases or even a smattering of Norman French.

But one High Court judge has gone to previously unheard-of lengths to make a judgment in a
family court case comprehensible even for the children it affects – by replacing dry terminology
with a battery of down-to-earth phrases and even a smiley face symbol.

The ruling handed down by Mr Justice Peter Jackson and published online is thought to be the
first in English legal history to incorporate an emoji, or web symbol, to explain a point of
evidence.

In what is being hailed as an exemplary instance of plain English, Sir Peter carefully navigates
issues from domestic abuse to religious fundamentalism and even a complex anti-terrorist
investigation in a brief 17-page ruling which he said he hoped the children would read for
themselves.

It explains to the children, aged 10 and 12, why they should have only limited contact with
their father, a white British Muslim convert who, the judge said, wanted to spirit them off to
Syria under the guise of a trip to Disneyland Paris.

The father, who can be named only as Mr A for legal reasons, was facing trial for trying to buy
guns and ammunition when the judgment was drafted earlier this year. It is understood he has
since been convicted.
It describes Mr A as a “loudmouth” and a “bigot” who talked “nonsense” about supposedly being
persecuted for his faith and saw himself as the victim of a conspiracy by “sneaky liars” in the
police and social services.

The children’s mother, who also cannot be identified, is described as having been “under Mr A’s
thumb” – one of the main reasons why he was deemed a risk to the children – and that he had “got
inside her head” making it hard for her to “see what everyone else can see”.

Others involved in the case include a teacher who was left “frightened to death” by his
threatening behavior.

Before detailing the evidence, the judgment attempts to allay fears about the courts the
children may have had.
For more information click here

The Archers: Verdict revealed in Helen Titchener trial

The Archers' Helen Titchener has been found not guilty of attempting to murder her abusive
husband Rob.
Millions of listeners to the BBC Radio 4 soap were expected to tune in as the fictional
trial drew to a close with the jury's verdict.
The high-profile domestic abuse plot culminated in the first hour-long episode in show's
65-year history.
A star cast of jurors, including Dame Eileen Atikins and Catherine Tate, were heard
deliberating Helen's fate.
After a week-long trial, the jury at Borchester Crown Court also found her not guilty of
wounding with intent over the incident, in which Rob was stabbed.

Discharged from the court room following the majority verdict, Helen had an emotional
reunion with her parents.
Her mother Pat told her: "You're a survivor, all right. You didn't deserve any of this - that's
what the jury decided, remember that."
But moments later, Helen was confronted by Rob. "Congratulations Helen, you must be chuffed with
yourself," he said.
Issuing a chilling warning, he added: "You might have fooled everyone else but you haven't got
rid of me - and as long as we have a child together you never will."
She replied: "The whole world knows what you are now Rob... You've failed, I'm free."

A family court hearing has been set for September 14, where the custody of Helen's two sons -
Henry and Jack

The stabbing, which took place in April, followed a much-debated storyline.
It has gripped listeners, sparked a national debate about domestic violence and brought a
flood of donations to the women's charity Refuge.

Rob's long-term emotional abuse of Helen had been slowly drip fed to listeners of The Archers
over two-and-a-half years.
Avoiding the standard depiction of abuse as daily physical violence, the drama centred on his
systematic undermining of her personality.
Throughout the trial, listeners heard evidence from both sides, building up to the jury's
deliberations.
The plot was inspired by a new law against "coercive or controlling behaviour" in relationships,
with writers consulting lawyers, charities and abuse survivors to get the details right.
For the gentle soap opera set in the fictional English village of Ambridge, the storyline has
proved a sensational departure from the cosy country life usually depicted.
The relationship between organic cheesemaker Helen Archer and farm manager Rob Titchener began
in 2013, leading to marriage and a baby.
Listeners were slowly introduced to Rob's darker side as he began to bully and control her,
isolating her from family and friends.
Programme editor Sean O'Connor said while he was aware the storyline was controversial, he had
been "surprised by the intensity of the reaction to it and how it has inspired a national debate
about a previously hidden issue in British culture".
Mr O'Connor added: "In many ways, while this is the climax to the story it's not the end of the
story - because Helen and Rob are still married, they have two children, one of whom they share
together...
"In many ways this story could be a 20 or 30-year story - as long as Helen and Rob share that
child between them."

Drama in Ambridge

I confess that I am looking forward to listening to the court case involving Rob and Helen
Tichner from BBC 4's The Archers next week.
Briefly, Rob (Helen's husband)  is a control freak and Helen is currently in
prison awaiting trial for attempting to murder him.
So traumatised by the incident, Helen has blocked out what actually happened and is unable to
inform her "brief" of the truth of the situation.
(He discovered she was trying to leave him, they argued, he goaded her into holding a
knife, he then attempted to assault her young child Henry.  She did what came naturally, and in trying
to defend the boy, ended up stabbing her husband.)

All very dramatic from the gentle drama in the fictional village of Ambridge.

Sadly though, this is so true in "real life" which is what makes this storyline so fascinating.

The story is exceptionally well written, the characters plausible and believable and we are all
left wondering if Helen will actually end up behind bars.....


The Archers BBC Radio 4   7 pm daily

10 Strangest British Laws

Did you know it's still against the law to beat your doormat after 8am or to go to a fancy party
dressed as a soldier? The chances are you’re breaking the law without realising

We try to do our best, don’t we? We pay all our taxes, drive at 29mph and say “please” and “thank
you” whenever the need arises.

But the chances are you’re breaking the law without even realising. The great and the good have
been making laws in Britain for hundreds of years.

They’re pretty good about creating new ones, but no so efficient at getting rid of the old ones
we no longer need.

Which is why it is still against the law to beat your doormat after 8am or to go to a fancy
party dressed as a soldier.

OFFENCE 1

Carrying your shopping home

It is a crime to walk home from B&Q if you’ve just bought a ladder or a plank of wood.

OFFENCE 2

Flying a kite

It is that same Metropolitan Police Act 1839. It threatens a £500 fine for any person “who shall
fly any kite or play at any game to the annoyance of the inhabitants or passengers, or who shall
make or use any slide upon ice or snow in any street or other thoroughfare, to the common danger
of the passengers”.

OFFENCE 3

Wearing fancy dress

Been invited to a fancy-dress party? Make sure you don’t go as a sailor or a soldier. The
Seamen’s and Soldiers’ False Characters Act 1906 prevents you from passing yourself off as a
member of the armed forces.

OFFENCE 4

Getting drunk in a pub

Everyone knows it’s against the law to be “drunk and disorderly”. You may also know that it’s
illegal for a publican to serve you if you’re drunk.

OFFENCE 5

Playing knock-down ginger

Do kids still play this game? If they don’t, that’s wise. Because ringing on someone’s doorbell
and then running away also contravenes the Metropolitan Police Act 1854.

OFFENCE 6

Keeping pigs outside your house

If you're in the city, you need to watch where you keep your porky pals

OFFENCE 7

Cleaning your doormat after 8am

It’s our old friend the Metropolitan Police Act 1854 again. Section 60, subsection 3 makes it an
offence to beat your carpet in the street.

OFFENCE 8

Asking a stranger for parking money

You’ve parked the car and you don’t have any change for the ticket machine.
Don’t dare ask anybody for a pound coin.It may only be a quid. You may never have asked a
stranger for money before - but it’s still begging under the Vagrancy Act 1824.
The punishment? Being sent to “the house of correction” for a month or less.

OFFENCE 9

Hailing a moving taxi

The London Hackney Carriages Act 1843 states even if a licensed taxi has its “for hire” light on,
the driver is only allowed to seek trade when at a standstill
According to section 33 of the Act: “Every driver of a hackney carriage who shall ply for hire
elsewhere than at some standing or place appointed for that purpose” shall be committing an
offence, for which the current maximum fine is £200.

OFFENCE 10

Handling salmon in suspicious circumstances

No, I don’t know what it means either.
But section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986, specifically outlaws “handling salmon in suspicious
circumstances”. So please stop doing it.
For more information click here

Divorcees reveal the tell-tale signs your marriage is doomed

An article in the Mail yesterday, tells us that Divorcees reveal the tell-tale signs your marriage
is doomed.These include

•  How they disagreed and going to sleep on an argument
•  For one bride she said she was in fact always afraid of her partner
•  Another person says they were married to someone who would never say they were sorry.

Apparently it's not what you disagree on, it's how you disagree.
'There's no such thing as two people perfect for each other, and how you approach the friction
is what either strengthens or eats away at a relationship,' the user writes.

'When you disagree, do you discuss the issue of the person? Is it, "I want sushi, but you want
pizza", or is it, "You always want sushi, I never get pizza".'
Whilst this difference is subtle, it's 'so much more important than most people realise'.
Basically, with the second approach, the person is being made out to be the problem instead of
the problem itself, and it shows that one person in the relationship is holding on to negative
emotions.
As a trained mediator I see this all to often.
When relationships break down emotions run high and talking face-to-face can seem like the
hardest thing to do.
Sometimes you need a hand to help get the talking started and focus on what really matters to you. That's where mediation comes in.

Mediation is a process to help couples who have decided to separate or divorce to talk things
through.
Mediation can help by:

• Reducing tension and hostility
• Helping you make informed decisions that are right for your circumstances
• Keeping communication channels open
• Saving the cost of expensive court battles
• Helping children by showing parents working together to resolve issues

For more information on the article click here

Toddlers don't forget a debt, research reveals

Reading in The Telegraph this morning,  research has revealed that toddlers keep a running tally
of who has done them a favour and know when to ask for something in
return.

Children develop the ability to know who is in their debt and when they are owed "payback"
from the age of three onwards, a study by Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich.

The researchers said that toddlers were more strategic than we might think.
The study recruited 40 three to five-year-olds who played a game in which they decided how many
stickers to share with stuffed toy animals.

In a second round they were asked to share stickers with two toys which had their own sticker
collections of the same size.
Later they were presented with the cuddly animals surrounded with toys like balloons and marbles.
The children were asked which animal they would ask to give them their toys.

The results showed that the children preferred to ask for toys from the animal they had given
more stickers to earlier.

The results were the same for the children at all ages, from three to five.

Lead researcher Markus Paulus said that the children had behaved 'strategically' in making their
decision.
He said: "Even preschoolers seem to be aware of the relative amounts of social capital they
build up in their relations with others, and they make strategic use of this knowledge.

"Reciprocity is a very important element of social life and is essential for the stability of a
society.

"The study shows, for the first time, that young children already demonstrate the expectation
that acts of generosity will be reciprocated by the recipient in their social behaviour."

It's not surprising that children of separated couples learn very quickly how to manipulate the
individual parent/guardian.

Having said that, those of us who are following the compelling story of Rob Tichner in the BBC 
Radio 4 drama "The Archers" will know that poor Henry, (a young 5 year old currently in the
custody of his step father ) is being manipulated with bribes and threats by Mr Tichner.
Hopefully Henry will manage to escape!
I was  amused by the presenter's comment after this weekend's episode - " I can't wait for
Halloween....I'm going as Rob!"
Enough said!
For more information click here

Is YOUR partner using a 'spy app'? How secret smartphone technology lets suspicious spouses access other mobiles remotely

We've all done it, accidentally not switched off the phone at the end of a conversation and gone
on to comment about the person we've just spoken with, or even accidentally redialed the last
used number and not realised that they can still hear what you're saying!
Not necessarily derogatory, but still concerning.
Reading this article in The Mail today, I was surprised to learn how popular bugging technology
is.
Not only can people eavesdrop on conversations, they can see texts and photos!

An undercover investigation has revealed a rising trend of secret mobile phone apps which can
be installed by suspicious partners to spy on their other halves.
With no laws to regulate them, private detectives are openly selling this furtive technology to
their clients.
Parents wanting to monitor their children's activities could use it, or companies suspicious of
employees behaviour.
Scary.....
For more information click here

Saudi billionaire dies just two weeks after his supermodel ex-wife was awarded £75m in high court divorce settlement

Due to the staggering sum awarded, the article caught my eye and I recently commented on the case

I am shocked to learn of the passing of Dr Juffali and must reiterate the importance of making a 

will - no matter how much money is involved.

The former supermodel who was awarded a staggering £75 million from her Saudi billionaire ex 

husband could now have the settlement delayed after the terminally ill Sheikh died.

International businessman Sheikh Walid Juffali passed away in Zurich on Wednesday following a 

lengthy battle with cancer. 

Earlier this month his ex-wife, former Pirelli calendar girl Christina Estrada, took the 

61-year-old to the High Court where her fight for a share of his fortune became one of the 

highest-stakes divorce battles of its kind.

Dr Juffali did not appear in court in person as he was receiving treatment in a Swiss hospital.

Had he died before the case was concluded, the 54-year-old model's property claim would have 

become irrelevant.

However the court hearing was brought forward due to his worsening health. 

High Court Family Division judge Mrs Justice Roberts had ordered Dr Juffali to pay Ms Estrada 

the lump sum by 4pm on Friday, July 29, however this could now be subject to a delay while his 

affairs are put in order. 

Dr Juffali's death will not affect the settlement. It is now legally binding and he will have 

to still pay her the money.

Ms Estrada met the businessman in 2000 and they wed soon after, however the marriage ran into 

difficulty after Dr Juffali's decision in 2012 to marry a 25-year-old Lebanese model, the mother 

of his two youngest children, while still married to Ms Estrada. 

Muslim culture allows more than one wife.

The sheikh divorced Ms Estrada in Saudi Arabia in 2014 under Islamic law without her knowledge.

The pair have one daughter together. 

Read more 

Although drawing up a Will can be a difficult issue to confront, it is vital to ensure that all 

you have worked hard for is left to those you hold so dear. By allowing our team of expert Will 

writers to help prepare or amend your Will, you can avoid a lot of future stress for your loved 

ones.

Writing a Will is extremely important and really shouldn’t be put off. Dying without a Will in 

the UK means your estate is subject to the rules of intestacy. Under the rules of intestacy, 

a spouse or civil partner may not inherit your entire estate, but may have to share it with 

children, parents or siblings. Cohabitants and step-children may well not benefit at all from 

an intestate estate.

A professionally written Will ensures none of the above happens. Our specialist Will writers 

will talk you through your entire estate, leaving nothing to chance. Your chosen beneficiaries 

will inherit your estate with the minimum of fuss or distress at an already traumatic time. 

Issues such as guardianship and the appointment of appropriate executors will also be addressed.

Saudi billionaire dies just two weeks after his supermodel ex-wife was awarded £75m in high court divorce settlement

Due to the staggering sum awarded, the article caught my eye and I recently commented on the case

I am shocked to learn of the passing of Dr Juffali and must reiterate the importance of making a 

will - no matter how much money is involved.

The former supermodel who was awarded a staggering £75 million from her Saudi billionaire ex 

husband could now have the settlement delayed after the terminally ill Sheikh died.

International businessman Sheikh Walid Juffali passed away in Zurich on Wednesday following a 

lengthy battle with cancer. 

Earlier this month his ex-wife, former Pirelli calendar girl Christina Estrada, took the 

61-year-old to the High Court where her fight for a share of his fortune became one of the 

highest-stakes divorce battles of its kind.

Dr Juffali did not appear in court in person as he was receiving treatment in a Swiss hospital.

Had he died before the case was concluded, the 54-year-old model's property claim would have 

become irrelevant.

However the court hearing was brought forward due to his worsening health. 

High Court Family Division judge Mrs Justice Roberts had ordered Dr Juffali to pay Ms Estrada 

the lump sum by 4pm on Friday, July 29, however this could now be subject to a delay while his 

affairs are put in order. 

Dr Juffali's death will not affect the settlement. It is now legally binding and he will have 

to still pay her the money.

Ms Estrada met the businessman in 2000 and they wed soon after, however the marriage ran into 

difficulty after Dr Juffali's decision in 2012 to marry a 25-year-old Lebanese model, the mother 

of his two youngest children, while still married to Ms Estrada. 

Muslim culture allows more than one wife.

The sheikh divorced Ms Estrada in Saudi Arabia in 2014 under Islamic law without her knowledge.

The pair have one daughter together. 

Read more 

Although drawing up a Will can be a difficult issue to confront, it is vital to ensure that all 

you have worked hard for is left to those you hold so dear. By allowing our team of expert Will 

writers to help prepare or amend your Will, you can avoid a lot of future stress for your loved 

ones.

Writing a Will is extremely important and really shouldn’t be put off. Dying without a Will in 

the UK means your estate is subject to the rules of intestacy. Under the rules of intestacy, 

a spouse or civil partner may not inherit your entire estate, but may have to share it with 

children, parents or siblings. Cohabitants and step-children may well not benefit at all from 

an intestate estate.

A professionally written Will ensures none of the above happens. Our specialist Will writers 

will talk you through your entire estate, leaving nothing to chance. Your chosen beneficiaries 

will inherit your estate with the minimum of fuss or distress at an already traumatic time. 

Issues such as guardianship and the appointment of appropriate executors will also be addressed.

Congratulations!

We learn this morning that Pippa Middleton has been spotted wearing an engagement ring for the
first time since news broke that her partner James Matthews popped the question.

The stunning brunette was glowing as she beamed at passersby while out and about in London on
Tuesday morning.
She has been dating the Hedge fund manager  for less than a year but are planning to wed in 2017.

Interesting to note that more than a third of people these days are single, ONS figures show
just over half of adults are married, compared with 90% of 60-year-olds – but divorce rates are
also highest among older couples.
Are all the good ones really married? Not according to new data that shows that more people in
England and Wales have never wed than at any time since records began.

In 2014 more than a third of people (33.9%) were not or had never been married, an increase of
three percentage points on 10 years ago, according to the Office for
National Statistics.

About one in eight people were living together as a couple but were not married. More men (28%)
than women (22%) lived alone and had never married.

I would just like to add my congratulations to Pippa and James and wish them a happy and long
life together.

Ex - supermodel's £75 million settlement.

We read reports in The Mail today of an Ex Supermodel, who will get "just" £75 million in her
divorce settlement.

How will she ever get by? Former model who wanted £196 million from her Saudi billionaire ex
gets 'just' £75 million - barely enough to pay for ONE of the houses she demanded

Ex-supermodel in biggest divorce case is awarded £75 million from Sheikh Walid Juffali, 61, to
meet her 'reasonable needs'. She said she needed enough from her ex-husband to afford a luxury
home in London worth about £60 million, a £4.4 million house in the country at Henley, as well as
£495,000 for five cars.

Ms Estrada was today awarded a £53 million cash settlement at London's
High Court - with lawyers saying the payout is worth £75 million when assets she has already
been given are taken into account.
Click here for the full story.

Mrs White is killed off and replaced with a new character!

I was interested to read this week that the makers of "Cluedo" have killed off Mrs White and
replaced her with a new character!

Sadly, this happens too often in real life. (Being replaced, not killed off!)

Of course in this instance we're looking at a fun family game which teaches deductive logic and strategy and encourages critical thinking

As reported by Lexi Finningan in The Telegraph, the makers of famous board game Cluedo have
killed off the ‘dated’ housekeeper Mrs White and replaced her with another female character
called Dr Orchid.

After more than 60 years in the game, the housekeeper of the Tudor Mansion is no longer a suspect behind the murder of Dr Black.

Instead, toy maker Hasbro is replacing her with another female named Dr Orchid – revealed to be
Dr Black’s adopted daughter.

“We're sure families across the UK, Ireland, and the world will continue to create thrilling
murder mysteries with all six suspects inside of the Tudor Mansion.'

Who knows what goes on behind closed doors?

The full story can be read in The Telegraph  here.

The most expensive divorce in history

'The most expensive divorce in history' ends after Russian billionaire reaches deal with ex-wife
Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and his ex-wife Elena appear to have reached an amicable deal
The saga of what was dubbed “the most expensive divorce in history” has apparently ended after Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and his ex-wife Elena said they had reached an amicable deal.
The former couple did not reveal the size of the monetary settlement but said in a joint statement that the deal on the terms of the divorce "puts an end to all legal procedures launched in different jurisdictions".
Mr Rybolovlev, 48, who became wealthy during the post-Soviet privatisation of the Russian economy, has been in the news this year after his legal battle with Swiss art dealer, Yves Bouvier.
As The Telegraph reports “The Russian oligarch, who owns AS Monaco football team and lives in the Mediterranean principality, accuses Mr Bouvier of selling him art works of Picasso, Modigliani, Degas and Gauguin at hugely inflated prices.”
His bitter and very public divorce battle began in 2008 – after a 23-year-long marriage – and worked its way through the courts until May 2014, when a Swiss tribunal awarded Elena Rybolovlev more four billion Swiss francs (£2.7 billion).
Mrs Rybolovlev’s court documents contained claims about lavish yacht parties where her husband allegedly shared “young conquests with his friends, and other oligarchs.”
But an appeals court in Geneva in June this year overturned that ruling, downgrading the payment to 564 million francs, with two real estate holdings thrown in for good measure.
One of the contentious points was Mr Rybolovlev's worth, as he had transferred shares in 2005 to a trust and then sold them three years later at a huge profit.
His ex-wife's lawyers argued that the appeals court calculated his net worth on the basis of the 2005 figures and not the 2008 numbers, and claimed that he was trying to hide assets that included Greek islands, a New York penthouse worth $88 million, and a $95 million Palm Beach mansionbought from Donald Trump.
The full story can be read in The Telegraph here

“Conventional housewife” leaves court with 90% of the family fortune.

A stay at home Mum who was criticised by her ex-husband for not bringing in more money after they split has been granted nearly all the family fortune by divorce judge.  Mrs Morris had previously quit her job as a recruitment consultant to stay at home and bring up their three children for 20 years.

The couple’s spending - described as “extravagant” both during and after their marriage break up, meant that their multi million pound family assets were reduced to £560,000.

As the Telegraph reports “Mrs Morris, who was praised by divorce judge, Glen Brasse, as having been a "competent and effective operator" during her pre-marriage career, "stayed at home to look after the home and care for the children by agreement with her husband."

Mr Morris’s lifestyle "continued as a very affluent affair", mounting up huge debts after taking up to six holidays in the space of just nine months.  Judge Brasse pointed to Mr Morris’s substantially larger earning capacity into the future and ruled that “only enough money remained in the pot to meet the core housing and day-to-day needs of the wife and children.”  Thus awarded almost half a million pounds to Mrs Morris, whilst giving Mr Morris £66,000.

The full story can be read in the Telegraph here.

‘Titanic divorce battle’

In numbers…
1970 - The year the couple married
2013 - The year the couple separated
43 - years of marriage
£30 million - The cost of the mansion in Hertfordshire that the couple moved to before they separated
£6.1 million - The legal bill so far
£66 million - Dr Khoo’s claimed net worth
£440 million - His net worth according to Ms Chai, the ex-wife of Dr Khoo
21 - Days given to Khoo Kay Peng to make a settlement offer to his wife in this big money divorce
7 - Days given to Ms Chai to say what offer she is willing to accept
1st of its kind - The description of the order by Georgina Hamblin who is acting on behalf of Ms Chai

15 days - expected length of the full court hearing if the parties still cannot settle.….Let’s hope that it doesn’t get to that! It’s already one of the most expensive divorces to come before English courts.

Full story and stats from The Telegraph, to read more click here

The strange case of the ‘alleged’ Tipp-Ex doctored documents

Sally Nightingale is fighting to see her former husband jailed as she claimed she had been deliberately mislead, after accusing him of doctoring important documents with Tipp-Ex.

The details are being argued in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

Mr Nightingale had previously agreed to give his wife a quarter (worth approximately £1.5 million) of his holding in a Dublin computer systems firm.  The amount became significantly reduced - a meagre £75, as he claimed the sale had been ‘very hard work’ and he had only received £330.

Patric Chamberlain QC who is representing Mrs Nightingale, highlighted that despite being ordered to do so Mr Nightingale had not produced all of the relevant documents.  Adding that ‘it became clear that he had doctored documents with Tipp-Ex and covered up photocopying in order to conceal the truth’.

The case is set to return to the High Court at a later date and I will be interested to see the outcome to this.

I think we can all learn that creatively using Tipp-Ex on important documents is certainly not right nor a clever thing to to do!

Read more on this Telegraph story here.

Crowdfunding a divorce

Sara McNally from Liverpool has come up with a rather interesting way to try and raise funds for her and her husband Neil to move on with their lives....

Telling the Liverpool Echo that turning to the crowdfunding website GoFundMe was a last resort, Sara admitted that she “felt like such a failure, but would regret it if I did not look at every possible option.”

Her initial aim - to raise anything up to a £30,000 target, was in order that they could to pay back a £25,000 loan that Sara and her husband took out to help pay for their house. Ultimately looking to the paying public to donate as much money as possible, to help with their financial state throughout their divorce and beyond.

Now I certainly don’t want to knock an original idea, but I’m not sure that everyone will be rushing to help with the donations! And guess what, when I tired to click on the link the page could not be found.  So I’m guessing that is the message that Sara got too!

Cheating made easy app

Happy New Year one and all.

2016 seems to have started with some good news for those cheaters out there! Whilst this story made me laugh this week, I can't help but think that in many ways, technology is getting to the point where it is somewhat detrimental to long lasting relationships.

Swytch - a revolutionary app, allows users to have up to five additional mobile phone numbers on their existing smartphone. As The Mirror reported, Chris Michael, CEO and Co-Founder of the app said:

‘’while this [app] may assist people who have already decided to have affairs, I cannot believe that would be a factor in their decision to start one…Facebook made it easier to meet people and dating app Tinder literally made it easier to hook up with people.  There will always be innovative services bringing great value to the users they were built for, and they will always end up being hijacked by a marginal number of users with ulterior motives."

So agreed - Swytch is not going to give cause to cheat in the beginning, but is definitely going to help those who wish to hide something.  Let’s hope that many individuals see sense and instead choose to talk through relationship problems rather than living double lives.

Mediation is a process to help couples who are on the cusp or have decided to separate or divorce to talk things through.  As a trained mediator, I can help you reach agreement about how to make the best arrangements for the future.