Spouses World Cup Match Report: First Wife v Second Wife

Ever wondered which one would come out of such a contest winning the cup? The recent case of Vaughan v Vaughan will make interesting reading for those of you facing this dilemma, and I suspect after reading you may decide that the answer is not to give them the opportunity to go into battle in the first place!

In the Vaughan case, Mr Vaughan was subject to an ongoing maintenance order granted to his first wife on their divorce some years ago. He had remarried but now reached retirement and was in ill-health. He took the view that now would be a good time to bring the maintenance for his first wife to an end, and therefore made an application seeking to achieve this. Obviously not one to take things lying down (no yellow card for her), the first Mrs Vaughan seized the opportunity to make application for her future maintenance claims to be capitalised. At first Mr Vaughan succeeded, the Court taking on board that his second wife had needs, therefore depleting his available income. However, (presumably after a team talk) on appeal (in the second half), the Court awarded the first Mrs Vaughan a lump sum of £215,000, stating that at the initial hearing the Judge had clearly incorrectly given the needs of the second wife priority.

The first Mrs Vaughan had not initiated these proceedings, yet succeeded in obtaining further lump sum provision. Akin to an own goal I would say!