Is London Becoming a Popular Divorce Destination?
Media commentators have been talking a lot recently about how London is reportedly known as “the divorce capital of the world”. It might be stretching things a little far to talk of divorce tourists, but it is interesting to look at why people are actually coming to England in the hope of a more favourable outcome.
Judicial Discretion in Divorce Settlements
Compared to other countries, the outcome of a divorce in the London courts is a much more discreet affair. It is also becoming well-known that the less well-off spouse in a marriage is likely to be awarded a more generous settlement in a court in England compared to what they might receive in their own country.
The legal system in England and Wales does not necessarily have a set formula or approach in determining the allocation of wealth and property when it comes to marriage breakdown and divorce. Judges in family courts have a lot more discretion and there are many factors that are considered in divorce cases that might be deemed irrelevant in other types of courts.
Deciding to Proceed
When a marriage breaks down, each partner must seriously consider whether it will be to their advantage for them to start proceedings in an English court. This is, of course, related to whether you possess more of the wealth in the marriage or whether you are in a financially weaker position.
If you decide to start with divorce court proceedings there are strict criteria that must be met, so people are advised to act quickly so they don’t waste too much time preparing. Sometimes one of the most critical aspects in divorce proceedings is being the spouse who petitions first. This has even been referred to as a race in some instances. Receiving legal advice is crucial if someone is considering petitioning for divorce, especially if they aren’t currently residing in England. It is important to be very organised if you are serious about starting proceedings so that you are in the best possible position.
High-Profile Divorces
Obviously, there have been a lot of high-profile divorces in the past few years in London. For a time, it seemed that nearly every day the front page of the newspapers contained the latest in a day of drama in the courts with estranged celebrities fighting it out. Some prominent divorce lawyers have even reached celebrity icon status as high-profile clients queue up to get the best lawyer to fight their corner.
Whether you have a lot of money or are less affluent, it is still important that you carefully consider if proceedings are going to be of benefit to you. Sometimes you can even avoid getting divorced by visiting a relationship counsellor or entering into a mediation process.
It’s a good idea to talk through your situation with an experienced lawyer before you make any serious decisions regarding divorce proceedings. Specialist divorce lawyers such as those you can find by visiting http://www.hylton-potts.com would be best placed to offer sound advice.
Category: Law
