Women could receive smaller divorce settlements

A high court ruling which denied a divorcee a share of her former husband's future salary may pave the way for smaller divorce payouts to women, the Daily Express reports.

Following the end of the relationship of Mrs H, a teacher, to her husband, she was awarded a £13 million cash settlement, but denied £1.5 million to compensate for the loss of her ex-partner's future earnings.

The ruling was made by Mr Justice Charles after it was revealed that the couple had made substantial savings during their marriage.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Charles said: "It is impossible to gauge the value or value the amount of the husband's future income that represents his enhanced or greater earning capacity and is thus a fruit or product of the marital partnership.

"In my view the reality is that his high level of income is primarily based on his talents, hard work and good fortune in pursuing his career. This is not a case where the wife gave up a career that was likely to provide substantial income. She was a teacher."

Mrs H, 46, was married to her banker husband for 20 years and no longer works. Other previous cases have seen women entitled to a share of their husband's bonuses and salary earned after the divorce.