Not allowed to divorce.

[FloralBunting]

www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-hereford-worcester-44949856?__twitter_impression=true

I'm hoping the link works, it's my first attempt.

I'm not a fan of divorce being easy (dur, Catholic), but something feels incredibly wrong about this man going to these lengths to refuse this woman a divorce. Surely he cannot possibly think that this course of action will save the marriage? Which leaves one with the only conclusion that he is controlling git.

That’s certainly a very interesting way of interpreting the situation, MRA

With your biggest thinking cap on, why is it that it’s generally men who have to stump up financially in a divorce and don’t get primary custody of the children?

Have you seen the abysmal uptake for shared parental leave in the UK? If men want to be the ones to stay home and raise the children and throw their careers under the bus in order to do so, the situation would be reversed in those cases. Can’t think why that doesn’t happen often.

It’s easy to read this story and feel sorry for the woman who seems trapped. However, my worry is that “no fault” divorce would lead to many people (women and men but I suspect more women) being abandoned on a whim. The rules we currently have allow a reasonable amount of time (5years) to elapse before just walking away because you feel like it is allowed and that protects people from uncertainty. There used to be - maybe still is - in some cultures the ability to divorce by simply saying “I divorce you” three times. Disastrous for women.

I agree inmyvest. There needs to be some sort of time limit placed on no fault cases and there will always be those who think it's too long.

There's obviously more to this case than meets the eye. Even for an eighty year old there's something to be said for getting it over with and moving on with your life. She's living in a separate cottage and funding a HC legal battle so hardly living a life of penury he's crowing over. I did read something (it may have been a comment on the DM) that pointed out he could effectly disinherit his wife, although it could be challenged, but she'd be entitled to 50/50 as a starting point in a divorce. Maybe he's just wiring it out!