Is it just me or does anyone else think the divorce settlements yesterday were bad news?

I cannot understand how someone married for 3 years can be entitled to £5million from a £17million total. Seems a little excessive to me, after all, its his money that he has earned?! And the other case where she is going to be paid £250K a year out of his £750K salary from now on - why?! I have to say that if I was the male in either partnership I'd be pretty naffed off!

Anyone else got any thoughts?

The explaination is the support that the woman have given, in these particular cases, leading to the fantastic incomes.  I remember a study recently showing married men are more successful that single men in these terms so maybe this is so.  One of the women, at least, gave up a promising career of her own which I suppose they must have both wanted her to do at the time.  As a wife that has never developed a career because right at the beginning Hubbie and I decided we would have a better marriage if we were not both working the hours and commitments that he was, I'm bound to be biased towards the view that that should be recognised should the worst happen :) At the end of the day, if you are earning £750K a year it's not going to leave you short :D and I'm not sure that these rulings are regarded as relevent to the average wage earner.  I just hope it doesn't make too much difference to Heather's pay out ;) but I don't think it should as Sir Paul's earnings really predate her.

Your only jealous Chloe :D :D :D I know i am! Lucky moo! :D

LOL :D

I have to admit that when I got divorced I had to buy my lazy a***d husband out, because although I had supported him and his army career for years I still managed to do well in mine. And I bought a house and had to buy him out despite him not contributing a penny!

and - while I am on a roll :D - if Paul McCartney has a fortune of £800MILL why doesn't he donate half of it to all the animal chairies he supports. am pretty sure he could save a few animal sanctuaries with that lot!

Wasn't that one of her gripes? :)

I don't know - was it?

According to the tabloids ;)

I think they were good news :)

As Isabel said, in many marriages, its the support a wife gives that enables the husband to do so well in his career. For too long this hasn`t been considered in divorce settlements, its only recently that the husbands pension plans have been taken into consideration for the ex wife. I`ve heard in the past of divorced women being given nothing for their old age :(

Indeed, over a long period of time - but 3 years marriage gets you 5mill?!! nice little earner.

I think that one was supposed to relect the adultery element although I must say I always though the modern view was a non blame one, adultery being a symptom of a failed marriage rather than a cause.
I think he's got a few mill. left to keep the wolf from the door though :)

In his jugdement the law lords were very emphatic that the adultery element was not and should not be any part of a settlement.  In settlements in future only significant external elements will be taken into account I assume that would be things like violence etc in the marriage.

The settlements were meant to reflect the spouses contribution to the marriage eg in the one were they were married for a long time she gave up a promising career to look after the children (a joint decision apparently) and to support him.

Ah! I did wonder about the adultery element.  My comments were regarding things I had heard before the case must admit I did not hear it mentioned again on completion.

Oh 3yrs must admit I only briefly heard it on the news but not the length

Yep, as you say nice little earner :D

but really I don`t know the ins n outs so can`t judge......

The £5 million for 3 years of marriage was representative of a large amount of money made in a very what amounted to a very short space of time and during the marriage.  I actually think that the settlement amounts aside, it's very positive news for stay at home Mums/women and the value (not necessarily solely in monetary value) of their contribution to the family's home and working life. :)

-Kay