Where the English connections of the case are very strong there may be no reason why the application should not be treated as if it were made in purely English proceedings
. The full procedure for granting ancillary relief after an English divorce does not apply in Part III cases. The conditions which can be attached to leave, together with the court's case management powers, can be used to define the issues and to limit the evidence to be filed, as was done by Munby J in this case. This enables the jurisdiction to be tailored to the needs of the individual case, so that the grant of leave does not inevitably trigger a full blown claim for all forms of ancillary relief.
49.The principles established in Agbaje have since been summarised by the Court of Appeal in Zimina v Zimin at [47]: i)
The legislative purpose is to alleviate the adverse consequence of no, or no adequate financial provision having been made by a foreign court in a situation where there are substantial connections with England. ii)
The duties under section 16 and section 17 together impose two interrelated duties i.e. to consider whether "in all the circumstances of the case" England and Wales is an appropriate venue and, secondly, whether an order should be made "having regard to all the circumstances" including the matters in section 25(2)(a)-(h) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. iii)
Part III cannot be used to 'top up' foreign provision in order to make it equate to an English award; it follows that mere disparity will be insufficient to 'trigger' the application of Part III. iv)
No element of exceptionality is required and neither injustice nor hardships are preconditions. The order need not be the minimum amount required to avoid injustice. v)
In considering quantum the court has a broad discretion subject to three principles: a.
Primary consideration is to be given to the needs of any children; b.
It is never appropriate to make an order which gives a claimant more than she would have been awarded had all the proceedings taken place within this jurisdiction; c.
- The Honourable Mr Justice Cohen :
- The History in more detail
- When did the marriage end?
- Legal proceedings
- The purpose of Part III
- which was the alleviation of the adverse consequences of no, or no adequate, financial provision being made by a foreign court in a situation where there were substantial connections with England
- Where the English connections of the case are very strong there may be no reason why the application should not be treated as if it were made in purely English proceedings
- H’s business activities
- The move to London
- The Foundation
- my death or physical or mental incapacity
- strictly speaking
- The German venture
- Russian projects
- W’s use of resources
- The assets of the parties
- £5.14m [£2.57m each]
- £95k
- [£2.57m
- £687k
- £3.087m
- W’s needs
- £3.4m
- £2.06m
- £320k
- Conduct of the litigation
