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16/09/2009
Row over divorce law |
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A row has erupted over the issue of how much money women can and should get in divorce settlements, following comments by the chair of the Bar Standards Board Lady Deech.
The peer has attacked the assumption that wives should take half of their husband's wealth in a speech at Gresham College, arguing that this is based on the assumption that husbands are still the main or sole breadwinners.
In a debate on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, she added that it sends out the message that women should marry a wealthy man, "stick it out" for a few years and then divorce for a big payout.
Only assets acquired after the start of a marriage should be divided, Lady Deech argued.
However, this was disputed by divorce lawyer Vanessa Lloyd Platt, who stated: "Women will have to give up careers to look after children and they must be properly compensated."
Possible divorce law changes are under consideration by Justice minister Bridget Prentice and Lord Blatch, the Times reports.
These would make mediation mandatory before any case could go to court, but Lady Deech has said she is against the idea as those "adamantly opposed to it" cannot be forced to go through the process.
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