Head of the Family team comments on today’s Court of Appeal judgment in Sharp v Sharp

Following today’s Court of Appeal judgment in Sharp v Sharp where a wealthy female executive successfully challenged a ruling that her former husband should get half of the fortune she built up during their marriage, Jacqueline Major, Head of the Family team at London law firm, Hodge Jones & Allen, says:

“The starting point in all financial provision cases is 50/50 but this is just “yardstick of equality” which can shift and be moved in certain circumstances.

In this case, the judge made it clear that he would change the percentage division because:

•  This was a short marriage
• There were no children involved
• Pre-marital wealth was brought to the marriage by Ms Sharp
• There was no joint approach to finances throughout the marriage.

All of the above, the Court of Appeal said, justified the departure from 50/50 provision.”