Background
The parties were married for a number of years and had small children. A child arrangements order was in place setting out that the children would have frequent contact with the husband. The wife stopped contact a week before the financial dispute resolution appointment in an attempt to receive a higher share of the equity from the family home.
The Financial Dispute Resolution Appointment
It was successfully argued that there is a child arrangements order in place and therefore the needs of the parties are the same. The wife did not like this, but the court agreed. Simply stopping contact for no reason does not mean the parties needs are not the same.
The Outcome
The matter settled with the equity being shared equally between the parties, in line with the courts indication.