Sharp v Sharp, divorce, matrimonial assets, equality principle, family law, short marriage
Simon Blain & Rebecca Dziobon
Penningtons Manches
On 13 June 2017, the
Court of Appeal handed down a hotly awaited decision about how the division of assets built up during a short marriage should be approached.
Mrs Sharp asked the Court of Appeal to reconsider the award made to her ex-husband Mr Sharp of 50% of the total matrimonial assets (£2.725 million out of £5.45 million (after some deductions and concessions). Their marriage and cohabitation taken together amounted to six years.
The Court of Appeal reduced Mr Sharp’s award to £2 million and the decision provides useful analysis for future cases of how the sharing principle should be applied when short(er) marriages and civil partnerships breakdown.
31 MAR 2025
