Family Law

Simon Blain & Rebecca Dziobon
Penningtons Manches

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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.