Assumption: "Once we're divorced, that's it. My ex can't come after my money or assets later."
1 min readThis content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.
What People Expect
Many people assume that once the marriage is legally over, so are any financial ties, and that an ex-spouse has no way of making a money claim once the divorce is finalised.
Court Reality
A divorce ends the marriage but does not itself close off financial claims between spouses, which are dealt with separately under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. Without a court-approved financial order, either party can bring a claim later, sometimes many years later. In Wyatt v Vince [2015] UKSC 14, the Supreme Court allowed a financial claim to proceed nineteen years after a 1992 divorce, because no financial order had ever been made, even though the couple had almost nothing at the time they split.
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The Gap?
"Once we're divorced, that's it. My ex can't come after my money or assets later."
Court Reality
A divorce ends the marriage but does not itself close off financial claims between spouses, which are dealt with separately under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. Without a court-approved financial order, either party can bring a claim later, sometimes many years later. In Wyatt v Vince [2015] UKSC 14, the Supreme Court allowed a financial claim to proceed nineteen years after a 1992 divorce, because no financial order had ever been made, even though the couple had almost nothing at the time they split.
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