BROOKMAN IN THE PRESS

Quickie marriage then quickie divorce?

(21 Aug 2008)

The London Paper reports on the need to think before getting married - if things go wrong, a `quickie’ divorce is not as fast as people might think.

So does a quickie marriage mean a quickie divorce?  The answer is no.  If you decide to marry on a whim and the marriage starts to go wrong, it does not mean you can divorce quickly.  Henry Brookman, senior partner at family law firm Brookman Solicitors, states “you can’t petition for a divorce until you have been married for a year”.

In the last week, Peaches Geldof wed her drummer boyfriend Max Drummey, in a quickie ceremony in Las Vegas.  Having only dated him for one month, the couple have insisted they are very happy, even though their relationship seems shaky.  So, being married in the US, what would this mean for Peaches and Max if it didn’t work out?  Brookman says “you can’t just fly back from your wedding abroad and get it rubbed out at home.  It’s fine to get a quickie divorce in Las Vegas or, say, the Dominican Republic if you are a resident there, as the law is different.  But if you are a UK resident with no ties to other countries, you have to abide by UK law.”

Deciding to get married is a serious long term commitment.  Making the wrong decision on holiday and then hoping you can sort it out quickly is not an option.  Brookman advises couples to think twice before heading to the Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas as it can have serious long term consequences on their return home.

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Web Site Link: Think before you wed | thelondonpaper.com