The legal dispute in the case of Helliwell -v- Entwistle continues to take turns with the latest turn appearing to be in the Supreme Court.

Brief Background

The divorce case involved a pre-nuptial agreement which was signed on the day of the wedding. Both parties in the case appear to have significant assets especially in the case of the wife who was assessed to have around £66 million.

The parties had agreed to provide full and frank disclosure as part of the entering into their agreement. This is a common trait to the process of a nuptial agreement. It was established that the wife had not disclosed over £45 million as part of their pre-nuptial agreement.

Court Proceedings

At the High Court trial, the husband claimed for a meal plan costing £26,000 a year. This appears to be sought for as the husband claimed he could not even cook an omelette. The Judge did not entertain this and indicated to the husband that he should learn.

Whilst the husband obtained a sizeable Judgment at the High Court, he has successfully appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal meaning that the case should be heard again at the High Court. The wife appealed the ruling of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court, something that is rarely done, but this was dismissed.  The Supreme Court decide that there was not an arguable point of low or a point of law of general public importance. As such, we await to hear what the result of the re-trial may be if the parties do not manage to settle matters.

Impact

The case could be set to provide some impact onto the treatment and formulation of pre-nuptial agreements. The High Court Judgment alone, shows that the Court can be swift to do away with claims for extravagant financial need.

Further information on nuptial agreements can be found here Nuptial Agreements

Consultation

If you want to discuss possibly getting a pre-nuptial agreement, John Hodge Solicitors can offer a free initial consultation. This consultation can be held in person, over the phone or online.

Free initial consultations are subject to internal checks and availability, and the information above does not constitute specific legal advice and should be treated as a guide frame only, as each individual’s circumstances are different.

Next Steps: Get in touch

If you would like to discuss your Family matter then please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of legal experts at John Hodge Solicitors, conveniently located throughout the South West, with offices in Bridgwater, Bristol, Clevedon, Wedmore, Weston-super-Mare and Yatton.

You can contact us either:

• by email
• via our website
• by calling us on 0800 097 8611