A woman, Maria Mills, went to court to demand for an increase in the alimony paid to her by her ex-husband, Graham Mills, whom she divorced 16 years ago.
Mrs. Mills’ prayers were granted by the High Court in the UK, however, her businessman ex-husband has taken the matter to the Supreme Court, in a bid to overturn the decision of judges to increase his ex-wife’s alimony payments despite their marriage ending 16 years ago.
Graham Mills appealed the High Court ruling which saw monthly payments awarded to Maria Mills increase by £341 ($457.70) to £1,441 to meet her ‘basic needs’.
Supreme Court justices will on Wednesday analyse the case, with Mr Mills claiming that Mrs Mills ‘unwisely’ invested money he has sent her since their divorce in 2002, reports Daily Mail.
Mrs Mills was originally awarded a £230,000 lump sum and monthly payments of £1,100, but a court heard she was left in debt after a number of failed property deals.
She repeatedly traded up to live in increasingly upmarket homes, leaving her with a mortgage she was unable to afford, and is now living in rented accommodation.
Lady Hale, the Supreme Court president and most senior justice, said, at the start of the hearing that the case raised a point of law of ‘some considerable importance’.
Mr Mills argued he ‘should not be the insurer against the wife’s poor financial decisions’, saying it was unfair that he should ‘pick up the tab’ years after they split.
He said Mrs Mills had lost the lump sum through ‘gross financial mismanagement’ and argued she was in a position to work and increase her earnings.
A family court judge ruled that nothing should change but Court of Appeal judges, who considered the case in 2017, said Mrs Mills’ payments should increase.
Mr Mills is now hoping for the Supreme Court to overturn the Court of Appeal ruling.
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