Mrs Waggott Loses £175k Per Annum Divorce Deal

The Court of Appeal has ruled that the ex-wife of a multi-millionaire’s maintenance payments should cease in 2021, marking a change in the tide of the way financial remediation matters may be handled in the family courts.

Kim Waggott had been awarded a £10m lump sum and a yearly maintenance of £175,000 in her divorce from her husband William Waggott. However when Mrs Waggott returned to the court to ask for an increase in her yearly maintenance, Lord Justice Molyan ruled that she should instead lose her payments in 2021.

Lord Justice Molyan added ‘Any extension of the sharing principle to post separation earnings would fundamentally undermine the court’s ability to effect a clean break.’

Expert Opinion

“This is the latest case to scrutinise the duration of spousal maintenance and demonstrates the shift towards maintenance being paid for as long as is needed for the recipient to adjust to independent living without causing undue hardship and no longer.”

“The duration of payments will depend on the facts of each case - and there will still be cases where long-term maintenance is appropriate - but greater consideration will be given to whether, and how quickly, the recipient can adjust to independent living without causing them undue hardship.” Stuart Ruff - Senior Associate Solicitor

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