Sole Legal owner - Short Marriage

Hi,I’m the sole owner of the property we lived in throughout our relationship. My ex-wife moved in with me in early 2019, we married in March 2024, and separated four months later in July 2024. I purchased the home in 2016.

She made no financial contributions to the mortgage, deposit, or household bills, and her name was never on the title deeds. I’ve since filed for divorce as the sole applicant.

She rented her apartement and was the sole financial benefactor. I paid for all the bills as support to help her train and subsequently pay off her flight training loan as quickly as possible.

She owns her own flat (mortgaged) and has been working full-time as a pilot since late 2023. Despite this, she now claims she’s entitled to a share of my home or a lump sum.Can anyone advise - under a short, childless marriage with no joint finances or contributions, and given my contributions during the relationship to enhancing her career for which she is the sole benfactor of now, does she have a claim to my property or equity?

Sounds like you have a good understanding of divorce law. A lot of what you have mentioned is very relevant, e.g. short marriage, no kids, she has a job, she has a place to live, no contributions from her, etc.

If I was the Judge I would make "no order", i.e. it sounds like your assets and finances are already split so there is no need to do anything.

She (or her solicitor) is claiming you owe her money but this is not necessarily the case. A Judge may potentially make "no order". However some Judges may decide a small lump sum is due if there is a big financial disparity (e.g. differences in incomes, assets, liabilities, pensions) because of the overall length of the cohabitation. The starting point is 50-50.

It may potentially be worth paying her a small lump sum rather than waste lots of money on legal fees (assuming you don't represent yourself). This sounds like a very simple divorce so it shouldn't need to go to court or involve lots in legal fees.

Just out of interest, why did you marry and why did you get divorced so quickly?

Thank you for advice!

Sadly, she is a high conflict individual - hence escalations in demands and supposed entitlements. She has recently advised that she wants to seek spousal maintenance, greater than 50% share in the equity in my property and over a 3rd of my pension - despite her age and career earning potential.

She has since seperation moved out of the marital property, rented a luxury two bed apartment for c.£1700 pcm, which she claims she is having to use a credit card to pay for but still owns and rents out her own property and also bought a convertible and built up over £70k of debt.

I'm seeking a full Clean Break proposal - she has already refused open and without prejudice offers. The open offer gave her a third of my pension and the ability to remain in the marital home for a period of time. The WP was 25% pension and £20k.

That should also explain the shortness of the marriage

You don’t mention ages, incomes or other assets but as you say it is a short childless marriage and both of you are able to support yourselves and have somewhere to live.

What have you based offering a third of your pension on? Personally I would be expecting both to leave the relationship as we arrived. Maybe a deposit to her or share the increase in equity of the house but nothing as major as a 50/50 split of assets.

You need a clean break order either by consent or otherwise to separate your finances. Judges don’t make no order decisions in these cases and if you don’t have an order either of you can make a claim in the future.

She is 29 I’m 33.

Similar salaries - hers has increased 3-4 x her previous salary after training to become a pilot which I supported her through effectively free housing, minimal living costs and paid for the wedding entirely myself. Essentially 3 individual windfalls for her.

We were not financially interdependent as we had no joint accounts etc - if anything, and by her own written admission - she was financially dependant on me for the majority of the relationship. However she now has a high earning profession with a milestone pay rise approaching at the end of the year to support her living costs, service her debt and has a property that she could use for housing - although it would require her moving to a location that’s further from work etc.

Initial offers were aimed at seeking a fast resolution and minimise legal fees.

I have a larger pension at the moment due to being more established in my career, but would like to argue if needed that she has ample time and earning potential to match my pension pot at retirement through her own ability.

Our assets are mainly the house/flat.
The house is my asset, the matrimonial home (as mentioned above). Her asset is her non-matrimonial flat for which I have never sought a share of due to its non-matrimonial status.
I have written and video proof of her saying she wishes to spend her “half of the house” in litigation.

I think her (or her solicitor) are hoping you will cave in and give up. Maybe they think you are weak or a push over?

I think maybe you should start mediation and go to court.

Given your case is so simple, potentially you could represent yourself to minimize legal fees.

A Judge may award her £10k and 10% of your pension or even less. Although a Judge might make you responsible for half of her credit card debt. It depends on the Judge and there can be big regional variations. I have heard London Judges are very generous.

However I think all Judges would award a clean break given you are both young, both have jobs, and there are no kids. Even with kids a clean break is still possible, e.g. Matthews vs Matthews (2013).

Why did you marry her?
High conflict people are the worst to divorce.

With talk of SM she is clearly deluded and due a wake up call.
At most offer half the increase in value of the matrimonial home for the time you were together. If she isn’t happy with that then mention that maybe the increase in value of her rental property should be offset against it.