Don’t Look Back in Anger.

Last week we saw a media storm erupt around the story of an ex-wife’s financial claims against her millionaire ex-husband who divorced her more than 20 years ago.

We saw headlines like, “tycoon’s divorced wife is cashing an old lottery ticket” and “former new-age traveller multi-millionaire faces £2m maintenance demand.” But the reality is different.

Once the headlines have faded away and we can look at the legal landscape, we realise that not much has changed in divorce law.

The facts in this case were that Ms Wyatt and Mr Vince were married in 1981 and had a son in 1983. By 1984 they had separated but did not divorce until 1992. After they separated Mr Vince pursued a new-age travelling lifestyle for eight years, living for some time in an ambulance converted into a camper van.

Ms Wyatt brought up their son and a daughter she had from a previous relationship in straightened circumstances. Mr Vince did not pay any maintenance.

He later developed an interest in wind power, having attached a windmill to a pylon and some batteries and four mobile phones in the early1990s and offered a mobile phone service to Glastonbury festival-goers. He saw the potential of wind turbines and started a company, Ecotricity.

The company went from strength to strength achieving remarkable success and its worth is estimated to be at least £57m . It was only in the final year of their son’s childhood Mr Vince was able ito provide substantial maintenance for him.

In 2011, 27 years after their separation, Ms Wyatt made an application to the court for financial support. Mr Vince retaliated by asking for her claim to be struck out of court. In fact, his application was initially struck out and what followed was some legal back-and- forth across the higher courts until it reached the Supreme Court last week. The Supreme Court said Ms Wyatt had a right to have her case heard. The judgment was no more than this. The case is yet to be heard but we did receive a few hints from the court about how it might be received.

Definitely Maybe.

The court said her claim will face “formidable difficulties” and it is a dangerous fallacy... that the current law always requires rich men to meet the reasonable needs of their ex-wives.”

Her claim is for £1.9m, but the court suggested if she were to win her case she is likely to receive a comparatively modest sum. Some have suggested this might be in the region of £120,000.

But you may ask why should she receive anything when they divorced so many years ago and his wealth was created long after the marriage ended? Well, this goes back to the time when Ms Wyatt was left holding the baby while Mr Vince travelled the world in his camper van.

He paid very little, if any, maintenance while Ms Wyatt struggled financially to raise their son.

When put in that light it doesn’t seem unreasonable for him to make a retrospective payment toward the upkeep of his son. But, of course, her case is yet to be heard and there is no guarantee she will win. All this ruling allows her to do is continue to fight her case. She is at the starting line under starter’s orders. Place your bets now.

Stop crying Your Heart Out.

What seems to have upset and surprised many commentators is the fact that Ms Wyatt’s claim is made so long after their divorce and, indeed, it is this principle that offends Mr Vince. But until the case is aired we won’t know for sure if the delay in bringing the claim will be fatal to its success.

What we know with certainty is the importance of making sure financial matters are finalised at the time of the divorce and a court order obtained.

This way finances are shored up and each party can be sure there will be no claims in the future.

It is a common misconception divorce will end a financial relationship ... it doesn’t.

The finances need to be divorced too and this can only be done by a court order. A visit to your local solicitor is the only sensible option. It will always be a sound investment and give you peace of mind for the future.