Succession planning and estate management in light of recent high net worth divorce settlements

Ruth Moore, Solicitor, Private Client department and Charlotte Ballard Scott, Partner, Divorce and Family Breakdown department, Kingsley Napley. www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

There has been extensive media coverage in recent months of a string of large divorce settlements: Miller, McFarlane, Sorrell and Charman being the most recent. Debate is still ongoing as to the reasons for the high ‘pay outs’ and whether or not they are right or wrong. This article looks at the effect of such settlements on succession planning and estate management.