Darren Francis represented a husband in divorce and related financial matters upon the breakdown of his marriage. The main assets of the marriage included the former matrimonial home in the UK and property in the West Indies, the latter of which the husband argued he owned in his sole name due to inheriting the property some 30 years prior to the marriage. Proceedings were particularly fractious, with the wife asserting that the property in the West Indies was used as a family holiday home during the marriage and therefore was a matrimonial asset. At the final hearing, the Court found in the husband’s favour and deemed that the property in the West Indies was indeed a non-matrimonial asset and the wife had no legal or equitable interest in it. The Court ordered immediate sale of the former matrimonial home and the proceeds split so as to rehouse the parties.

The matter was further complicated by the wife’s continued refusal to vacate the former matrimonial home to effect sale. The wife was informed of the husband’s intention to issue enforcement proceedings under rule 9.24 of the Family Procedure Rules 2010, to request the Court to order that she give up possession of the property so that the sale may proceed. In light of this, the wife decided to comply with the original Final Order and the sale is now proceeding, much to the husband’s relief.

If you need help or advice with divorce and associated financial matters, please contact us to see if we can assist you.