04.07.2016

A Practical Way To Deal With A Difficult Situation

Leading family law experts have reiterated the importance of post-nuptial agreements to protect a settlement received before the relationship started.

This comes after the news that an estranged wife is trying to claim part of the £175,000 compensation her husband received for suffering sexual abuse as a child.

As part of her divorce settlement, Helen Tippett, 41, has applied to the courts for a share of the compensation paid to Andrew Kerslake.

Mr Kerslake, 45, personally regards the compensation as ‘dirty money’ and put it into a trust to be given to charity when he dies.

But Miss Tippett believes the money is a marital asset and wants her share of it.

The father-of-four was paid the sum in 2002 by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, a government organisation which pays damages to victims of violent crime, after being molested between the ages of five and ten by a family friend.

When the compensation was paid the couple were happily married with Miss Tippett studying for a humanities degree and Mr Kerslake a stay-at-home father.

Mr Kerslake wants the fund to be his legacy and has laid down instructions about how it should be used to help other victims of abuse.

Irwin Mitchell’s family law team help thousands of people decide what is right personally, legally and financially for them and their family.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of child abuse, our child abuse claims specialists could help you get justice and claim compensation. Call 0370 150 100 to talk confidentially to someone about making a claim or visit our Abuse & Criminal Injury Claims page for more information.

Expert lawyer Teresa Davidson feels that a case like the one involving Mr Kerslake highlights why a post-nuptial agreement can be a sensible and straightforward decision in certain circumstances.