Family law

Millionaire receives jail term for hiding money in divorce case

A claim for contempt of court at the Chancery division of the High Court in Birmingham in November has resulted in a jail term of two years being handed out to an ex-boss of the Ford plant at Dagenham. This is the longest sentence of its kind, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

David Thursfield, 67, had been the subject of a previous High Court freezing order in 2011, after a claim brought by his ex-wife, to stop him disposing of money and property she claimed he had hidden during their divorce. Although he had a string of high-profile, highly-paid jobs, Thursfield claims he is now ‘penniless’.

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Government plans regarding same-sex marriage law

The BBC reports that the Government is to publish plans next Tuesday, outlining how it intends to introduce same-sex marriage. For example, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, is now in favour of churches in England and Wales being able to carry out same-sex unions if they wish; originally he said legislation would not include religious ceremonies.

Due to the fact that some religious groups, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England, have voiced opposition to the plans, Ministers say any changes would “fully respect” the rights of religious organisations’ non-participation.

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Five-year-old British girl embroiled in transatlantic custody dispute

A young British girl with an American father is the subject of an international custody battle which has gone all the way to the US Supreme Court, according to the Telegraph.

Five-year-old Eris Hales Chafin’s mother, Lynne Hales, is arguing with ex-husband Jeffrey Chafin, a US Army sergeant, over custody of their daughter.

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Fiancé of killed soldier wins battle to prove paternity

The fiancé of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has won her fight to complete a DNA test proving he was the father of her baby, according to the BBC.

20-year-old Private Daniel Wade was killed when an armoured personnel carrier was blown up on 6 March this year.

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Pilot wins right to divorce Brazilian wife in UK

An easyJet pilot whose wife refused to return from Brazil to England after a holiday in her homeland has won his legal fight to have their divorce settled in British courts, according to The Telegraph.

Silvana Cattin left her husband, Jean, and refused to return to England with their children after a row several days into a Brazilian holiday.

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Judge comments that ‘need’ is not relevant in ‘big money’ divorce settlements

Last Friday, Lord Justice Thorpe gave a warning about the ex-wives of rich husbands who think they ‘need’ large financial settlements in the wake of their divorces, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The judge made the remarks as he presided over an appeal case in London, together with Lords Justice Rimer and Elias, in which a multi-millionaire hotel owner, 50-year-old Andrew Davies, is trying to cut a £2.75m divorce pay-out previously awarded to his ex-wife, 39-year-old Debra Davies.

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Informal sperm donor must pay child support 13 years later

Mark Langridge, 47, was shocked to be told by the Child Support Agency (CSA) recently, that he must pay £26 a week child support for two children he fathered as a favour to a lesbian couple, as yet unnamed, who were his friends years ago.

The Daily Mail reports that Essex-resident Langridge and his long-term partner, Shaun Keeble, met the women in a gay nightclub in Southend in 1997.

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Study says men who do housework are more likely to get divorced

According to The Telegraph, a Norwegian study has found that couples who share household chores are more likely to get divorced than relationships in which the woman does the majority of the work.

Couples who share housework equally are 50% more likely to get divorced, according to the Norwegian study “Equality in the Home”.

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Could a new Archbishop of Canterbury affect Government plans for a gay marriage law?

This week, the BBC reports that the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), which has 16 members drawn from the clergy (including two bishops) and the laity, has started a three-day meeting to select a new Archbishop of Canterbury, to replace Dr Rowan Williams when he steps down from the post in December.

According to the Independent, it is generally acknowledged that during Dr Williams’ term, the Church of England has experienced a fair amount of discord, most notably regarding the possible ordination of women bishops and the prospect of Government plans to introduce a gay marriage law in 2015.

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Couple left with pittance after £1.7m fortune squandered on divorce

A judge has criticised two solicitors for spending £1.7 million on legal fees throughout a divorce, according to The Telegraph.

Judge Clive Million, in a County Court judgement delivered in December, said the couple had driven their marriage “full tilt onto the rocks” and stated they have “spent almost all of their assets in litigation” with each other.

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