Mr and Mrs Z were married for 9 years and had an 8 year old son. Mr Z was a successful businessman and had incorporated and was managing several companies. Our client, Mrs Z was shareholder in one of his businesses. The couple were paid dividends and a salary from the company for a number of years.
From the onset of the relationship, it had been agreed that Mrs Z would not work and look after the parties son and home. Our client used to work for the Council prior to being married to Mr Z but had given up her job at the insistence of her husband.
The couple and their child were accustomed to a good standard of living with a large, comfortable family home, their son in private education and the family having numerous holidays abroad each year.
The matrimonial home of the couple was in our client’s husband’s name. During the marriage Mr Z was responsible for the mortgage and household bills and our client would use her dividends for their son and his private education. When the parties separated Mr Z left the matrimonial home and refused to pay the household expenses and mortgage.At the same time, the Company stopped paying her dividends at the instruction of her husband.
In these circumstances, our client was not able to fund her child’s private education and the household expenses. She was in a situation our divorce lawyers unfortunately see all too often, in particular with wives who have chosen to stay at home and care for their families. Her husband had cut her off financially, to exert undue pressure in an attempt to get her to agree to a settlement that would have not been in the best interest of her child or herself.
