LS Legal News Bulletin
International Divorces: London's Reign in Divorce Tourism
Wednesday 14th February 2024
Stella Marat
💥 Can you divorce abroad and apply for financial settlement in England? Many expats choose to go to the London court for their divorces. London earned the title of the "world capital of divorces" due to the «generosity» of its judges. But things might change now.
🖋️ On January 31, 2024, the UK Supreme Court made a significant ruling. The ruling was about financial claims after divorces that happened overseas.
💍 The Potanin couple, both Russian nationals, married in 1983 and divorced in Russia in 2014. Despite starting with modest means, the husband accumulated significant wealth. Much of it was held in trusts and corporate entities.
🇬🇧 In June 2014, four months after the Russian divorce, the wife got a UK investor visa. She bought the property in London. Since 2017, she has claimed London as her permanent residence. She started legal proceedings under Section 13 of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984.
Russian courts decided to divide the assets equally. They awarded Potanina at least $41.5 million. However, the husband disagrees and claims she received $84 million. The Supreme Court pointed out that the awarded sum was only a fraction of what she could have received. Not all the husband's assets were considered.
Stella Marat, our Legal Consultant, says, "This decision will now make it harder to access financial settlement after overseas divorce in England. London is often called the destination of divorce tourism. Will London keep this title or not? Only time will tell."
