Millionaire's ex-wife seeks outstanding maintenance payments

Thu 22 Apr 2010

A woman who was awarded £27,000 a month maintenance in her divorce from a wealthy property tycoon has been back in court today.

Scot and Michelle Young divorced late last year, but Mrs Young is alleging that her estranged husband has not yet handed over the money he was ordered to pay.

The case has gone to the High Court, where Mr Young is claiming that he cannot afford the payments because of his debts.

Indeed, he said during the original case he is living on handouts of £150 a week from his friends.

Mrs Young said she is fighting in the interests of justice, as the divorce has had a "huge effect" on her and the couple's children.

She has also accused her husband of failing to declare the value of his assets, as the cost of his legal representation suggests he is worth more than he claims.

Mrs Young added that "this is a process to make history for an important case like this to receive public funding".

Jacqueline Major, a family law solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "The long-running Young case is familiar to family law solicitors. It is a classic example of the difficulties faced by applicants for financial provision where the other party states there are no assets.

"Mrs Young was awarded her substantial maintenance payments by the court and Mr Young says there is no money to pay. Mrs Young is trying to get to the bottom of where the millions they apparently had during the marriage have gone.

"It is always a difficult situation where one party alleges the other is misrepresenting the true position. Here at Winckworth Sherwood, our family law practice has a wealth of experience in helping to ensure such matters are investigated as thoroughly as possible using the various court options available."