26 Years On, Divorce Feud Enters 2018

A divorced couple who remain “embroiled in numerous disputes” 26 years after separating will see their legal battle continue in early 2018.

Carole Hayes, 67, and Timothy Hayes, 68, have both moved on with new partners and hometowns, but are still bringing claims against each other in court despite separating in 1991.

Expressing fears that their legal grievances looked set to continue without end, Mrs Hayes said in October 2017: “I just want it to finish before I die.”

The couple have made a number of claims against each other.

Mr Hayes, 68, accuses his ex of harassing him and his new wife. Mrs Hayes, who lives with her long-term partner, maintains that her former husband is hiding £1m of assets from her in offshore accounts.

Both deny the other’s accusations, and have additionally petitioned for the other to be declared bankrupt. Mr Hayes’ petition to have his former wife declared bankrupt over a string of unpaid, ordered legal fees between 2006 and 2015 formed the basis for the latest appearance in court.

“An order is an order is an order”

In 2005, Mrs Hayes successfully forced her former husband to declare bankruptcy for failing to pay £35,000 in legal costs.

Mr Hayes, who was discharged from bankruptcy in March 2006, is now returning the favour with his own petition concerning £50,000 worth of legal orders as yet unpaid by Mrs Hayes.

In October 2017, Mrs Hayes asked Mr Justice Morgan to absolve her of these fees. But the judge refused her appeal, saying: “An order is an order is an order.”

No end seems in sight for the pair’s court appearances, with Mrs Hayes saying in a statement outside the court that she intends to continue fighting the decision, with a county court hearing scheduled for early this year.

Divorce rates spike in January

Charities and support services that deal with divorce are reporting as much as a 25% spike in relationship breakdowns in the month of January.

Kate Daly, co-founder of a divorce support company, says that over 40,500 people in the UK search the word “divorce” on online search engines in January, with most of this traffic concentrated around the eighth day of the month.

“The holidays are often a tricky time for couples whose relationships have been under pressure for a while. Add in the intense time spent together, financial pressure, extended family critiques and unrealistic expectations– and it can spell disaster for some relationships,” Ms Daly explains.

National relationship charity Relate clarifies that this is not the result of Christmas holidays breaking relationships, but the product of existing conflicts being forced into the open through extended time spent together at home. The charity’s helpline experiences a 24% increase in calls during January.

“The reality is that many of the calls we receive in January are from couples who are already at crisis point after existing relationship tensions have come to a head over Christmas” says Relate chief executive Chris Sherwood.

Divorce popularity calls for reform to the law

In England and Wales, national marriage and divorce statistics now show that heterosexual marriages last a median of 12 years, with 42% of marriages ending in divorce.

The prevalence of divorce has led to calls for reform to the law to provide divorces without the traditional need for a legally permitted reason, with the 2017 report ‘Finding Fault? Divorce Law and Practice in England and Wales‘ supporting the call for change. Since the 1970s, “unreasonable behaviour” has been the most common reason cited in heterosexual divorces.

Talk to IBB Solicitors about divorce today

The divorce process can be long-winded, confusing and stressful. For expert insight and friendly advice, talk to experts at IBB Solicitors today. Whether you’re looking for a quick, stress-free end to your marriage, want to contest parts of your separation or simply want more information on the divorce process and financial settlements, we can help. Call our high net-worth divorce experts with no obligation today on 03456 381381 or email us at familylaw@ibblaw.co.uk