Coercive Control in Divorce: Court Cuts Wife’s Settlement by 40%

Sorting out the financial settlement on divorce can be one of the most challenging aspects of separation. While the circumstances in this case are unusual, issues such as coercive control in divorce settlements can influence how the court approaches financial matters. Even in more typical day‑to‑day situations, our team provides practical, straightforward advice to help you reach a fair financial settlement that works for you.

Wife’s Divorce Settlement cut by 40% over Coercive Control and Deception

A judge has cut a wife’s divorce settlement by 40% after finding that she subjected her husband to coercive control, violence and long-running deception during their marriage.

Court Considers Conduct in Dividing Assets

In a rare decision in which personal conduct played a decisive role in the financial outcome, the Family Court ruled that it would be unfair to ignore the wife’s behaviour when deciding how the couple’s property should be divided.

Background to the Marriage

The husband, aged 72, and the wife, aged 60, married in 2011 and separated in January 2023 after a relationship of just under 12 years. They have a daughter, now aged 11, who was born by surrogate.

Findings of Deception and Coercive Control

The court heard that the wife had repeatedly misled the husband about her background, including falsely claiming to be a High Court judge. She was later convicted of fraud and dishonesty in the criminal courts. The judge also accepted findings made in earlier family proceedings that the wife had subjected the husband to coercive and controlling behaviour, including physical abuse, threats and intimidation, some of which occurred in front of their child.

Arguments over Matrimonial Property

In the divorce proceedings, the wife argued that she was entitled to an equal share of the couple’s two main homes, both held in joint names. Ordinarily, equal sharing is the starting point for dividing matrimonial property.

Why this Case was Treated as Exceptional

However, the judge said this was not an ordinary case. He found that the wife had made no financial contribution to the purchase of the properties and that her conduct during the marriage was so serious that it would be “inequitable to disregard” it. Taking those factors together, he reduced her entitlement from the usual starting point of equality.

Final Award made by the Court

Instead of receiving half the value of the matrimonial properties, the wife was awarded 30% of their combined value. The judge also found that she had already taken or transferred substantial sums during the marriage, including large unexplained overseas payments and cash withdrawals, which were treated as money already in her possession.

After taking those amounts into account, the court ordered the husband to pay the wife £750,000. She will also retain a separate property she owned before the marriage, along with other assets in her name. All maintenance payments will stop, and the order will bring about a clean break between the parties.

Impact on the Parties going Forward

The judge said the award was more than sufficient to meet the wife’s needs and reflected both the nature of the marriage and the impact of her behaviour. The husband will retain the former matrimonial homes and continue to care for their daughter.

Please contact us if you would like more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of family law.

Practical Support for Reaching a Fair Financial Settlement

Although the situation described above is unusual, many people going through separation face the very real challenge of sorting out their finances. Working through the financial side of a divorce can feel overwhelming, even in ordinary day‑to‑day circumstances, and our team is here to support you with practical, straightforward advice to help you reach a fair financial settlement that works for you.

Find out more about how we can help on our Financial Settlement on Divorce page

Support if You’re Experiencing Coercive or Controlling Behaviour

If you are worried about coercive or controlling behaviour in your relationship, or you’re unsure whether something you’re experiencing is acceptable, help and support are available. You may find it useful to contact:

Refuge (24‑hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline): https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Men’s Advice Line (for male victims): https://mensadviceline.org.uk
Women’s Aid – Understanding coercive control: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/what-is-coercive-control/

We can also offer confidential, compassionate legal advice on how issues like coercive control may affect divorce, child arrangements and financial settlements. For more information please contact us.

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