Splitsville News

This story on the UK site, www.telegraph.co.uk, is about a judge’s order that millionaire aristocrat Erik Robson sell his family estate in order to generate the 8 million pound lump sum payment that Robson owes his wife, Chloe Robson, as part of their divorce settlement.

The “family home” of Mr. Robson is a hall built in 1673 on property that includes 2,050 country acres that are complete with 18th century gardens and a village of 18 houses.  Now, while the property is very old, and while it was an inheritance, it has actually only been in Robson’s family for 60 years.  Who did it belong to the rest of the time?

The matter before the court now is whether it was fair for the judge to order to Mr. Robson to sell the place.  Robson’s counsel is arguing that 8 million pounds for a housing fund and income fund is too much, that the lifestyle that the family enjoyed over the 25-year-marriage was based on overspending, and that the judge who made the decision didn’t like Mr. Robson.

In Washington, property that has been inherited is considered separate property.  Although the law allows a court to order that the separate property of one spouse be awarded to the other if it’s necessary to achieve an equitable result, that kind of order is rarely entered.  I’m not aware of an instance, and have always imagined it would take something like Bill Gates-level wealth.  Considering the estate is supposed to be worth 42 million pounds, it’s not an insignificant asset.