The Supreme Court has ruled that a man does not have to increase the maintenance payments to his former wife, 16 years after their divorce.
Last year Graham Mills was ordered by the Court of Appeal to increase monthly maintenance payments to his former wife, Maria, from £1,100 per month to £1,441 for life as she was “unable to support her basic needs.”
However, the Supreme Court has overturned that decision, saying it was Mrs Mill’s decisions that left her without capital and increased the cost of her basic needs.
After their divorce settlement in 2002, Mrs Mills was given a lump sum to buy a house mortgage-free. She managed her finances poorly and “unwisely” traded up to live in more upmarket properties, leaving her with a mortgage and without any remaining capital.
Mrs Mills is subsequently living in rented accommodation and asked for her maintenance payments to be increased.
