Model and songwriter Kirsty Bertarelli has reportedly become Britain’s “richest divorcee” after a divorce from her billionaire husband after 21 years of marriage.
According to the Daily Mail, Ernesto and Kirsty Bertarelli’s divorce was finalised in the summer, with Kirsty Bertarelli agreeing to accept a £350 million settlement, making her the richest British-born divorcee on record.
It has also been reported that in addition to the £350 million settlement, the former Miss UK has also been given a house next to Lake Geneva in Switzerland, purchased earlier this year for £52 million.
Prior to this news breaking, the couple had been jointly listed at 14th place in the Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated fortune of around £9.2 billion.
Why was there no court case?
If a couple can agree on what the financial settlement will be, there will normally be no need to go to court. In fact, the majority of couples will, either with help from lawyers and/or mediators or between themselves, reach an agreement on how their finances will be split.
According to the report in the Daily Mail, this seems to be the case with Ernesto and Kirsty Bertarelli.
What will happen if we cannot reach an agreement about how our finances will be split upon divorce?
Asking a court to decide your financial settlement should normally be viewed as a last resort, as this can be costly, stressful and time-consuming. Battles around finances played out in the court room can also have a negative impact on the future relationship with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, which can be particularly damaging if there are children involved.
If you and your spouse are unable to reach an agreement between yourselves, there are other options available. Mediation, for example, where an independent third-party aids discussions between you and your spouse with the aim of reaching an agreement on anything from finances to child arrangements, can be helpful for many couples.
Collaborative law, where a couple and their respective lawyers, meet to try and work out a fair financial settlement, also works for some people.
Sometimes, going to court is the only available option left. It is crucial to have a solicitor who will work with you to avoid costly and drawn-out court battles, but at the same time is ready and willing to go to court, should the need arise.
If you would like to find out more about how we could help you to reach an agreement with your spouse regarding your financial settlement, or simply want to know what a fair financial settlement could look like in your circumstances, get in touch to book your free consultation with one of our experienced family lawyers today.