The price of separation - Legal Ombudsman

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208. An unlikely storyMrs H instructed a firm to help with both her divorce andthe subsequent financial settlement. After receiving asettlement of around half of her and her ex-husband’sassets Mrs H complained that the firm failed to get herwhat she deserved – in particular she blamed the firm’sfailure to make more of her husband’s alleged abusivepast.However, it came to light in court that Mrs H had writtenaffectionate letters to her husband during the course of the divorce,making it difficult to convince the court that he was abusive andthat she was frightened of him.Nevertheless, Mrs H complained that she had wasted £30,000 instriving for a better settlement and wouldn’t have had to attend thehearings if the firm advised her properly.Mrs H wanted the firm to apologise and to pay compensation forthe distress they had caused her.Following an investigation, we found that the firm hadacted reasonably – Mrs H should have told them about hercorrespondence. The ombudsman agreed and noted that thenature of the letters to her husband contrasted with her witnessstatement against him, which made it unlikely that the court wouldorder the financial settlement she wanted. Mrs H rejected theombudsman’s decision.The price of separation: Divorce related legal complaints and their causes
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Page 2 and 3: ContentsSummary 01Introduction 01Ma
Page 4 and 5: 02In addition to the emotions invol
Page 6 and 7: 04the initial work to be done, toge
Page 8 and 9: 06These two pressures, then - the v
Page 10 and 11: 08And of course, issues do not just
Page 12 and 13: The matrimonial market10The sorts o
Page 14 and 15: 12ConclusionAs this report illustra
Page 16 and 17: 14The firm contested the investigat
Page 18 and 19: 164. Pricey and diceyMr D instructe
Page 20 and 21: 18As the lawyer had allegedly been

The price of separation - Legal Ombudsman

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