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Housing Seminar: Partnerships with the Public Sector – Avoiding the pitfalls
Thu 31 May 2012
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
Divorce granted for Cheryl and Ashley Cole
Fri 03 Sep 2010
Cheryl and Ashley Cole's four-year marriage has officially ended after the couple were granted a decree nisi at the High Court's Family Division in London.
This preliminary divorce order, which could be finalised within weeks if neither side objects, follows the couple's separation in February.
Although the break-up was reported extensively by the tabloid press, with Chelsea and England footballer Ashley accused of a string of infidelities, their divorce proceedings have taken place quietly behind the scenes.
Pop star and X Factor judge Cheryl is believed to have told friends she wanted the legal matters to proceed in a "quick and painless" manner, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The pair met in 2004 and were married two years later in a ceremony in Hertfordshire.
District Judge Christopher Simmonds granted the decree nisi on the grounds of Cole's admitted unreasonable behaviour.
Neither party attended the hearing in central London, which lasted only one minute and 20 seconds, according to Sky News.
Jacqueline Major, a solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "Celebrity divorces attract press attention like bees to a honey pot, and this is usually the type of attention least sought by anyone, not just celebrities.
"Most people want to preserve some dignity in their divorce proceedings, and as much of the process is actually confidential to the court (i.e. documents like the petition are not open to public scrutiny in an undefended divorce), it is possible to limit the amount of press reporting.
"The media fiasco of Peter Andre and Katie Price is a good contrast to the Cole divorce, as in the former case the parties did not do a very good job of keeping the details of their divorce private.
"In the latter case the parties have striven to keep their dirty linen from the tabloid press and have been largely successful as only the barest details have emerged about the breakdown.
"Good family lawyers can help immensely in this process, by giving advice as to how to deal with unwanted publicity, and with issuing suitable press statements if necessary.
"We at Winckworth Sherwood uphold total client confidentiality, and having acted over the years for a number of celebrities. We have plenty of experience with ensuring client privacy, and in dealing with the press and media appropriately."
