A Practical Guide to Short Marriages for Family Lawyers – Second Edition

This second edition of the book offers comprehensive guidance on calculating the duration of a marriage, the application of the needs, sharing and compensation principles in short marriage cases, and how the issues of housing, maintenance, pensions, and agreements may be considered following the breakdown of a short marriage. There is a comprehensive analysis of the updating authorities since the first edition, as well as further consideration of the more historical cases. The following topics are covered: How to assess the length of a marriage Needs Sharing Compensation Housing Income Needs / Maintenance Pensions Agreements ABOUT THE AUTHORS Sadie Glover is a Family Law Partner and Mediator based in South Buckinghamshire. Her practice encompasses all aspects of family law, with a particular emphasis on complex financial remedy and children matters. She recently acted in the published decisions of M v F [2024] EWFC 393 and M v F [2024] EWFC 393 (No 2) (costs), instructing Beth. Sadie regularly delivers training for MBL Ltd, one of the country’s leading CPD providers. She is also a committed and active member of Resolution, sitting as Secretary to the Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Regional Committee. Philip Perrins is a specialist matrimonial finance barrister at 1GC Family Law with expertise in international cases, including disputed divorce jurisdiction, forum disputes, Part III applications, and marital status cases. He recently acted in Boughajdim v Hayoukane (Validity of Foreign Marriage) [2022] EWHC 2673 (Fam), J v A [2023] EWFC 132 (jurisdiction and forum dispute), Mahtani v Mahtani (Validity of Foreign Divorce) [2023] EWHC 2988 (Fam) and, with Beth, in Mahtani v Mahtani (No. 2) (Adverse Inferences) [2025] EWFC 35 (Fam). He is often instructed in cases involving third party claims, having appeared in the leading case of Fisher Meredith v JH and PH [2012] 2 FLR 536. Philip is also qualified arbitrator and conducts arbitrations under the IFLA Scheme, as well as sitting as pFDR evaluator. Beth Hibbert is a specialist family barrister at 1GC Family Law, instructed on cases across the full spectrum of family law, with a growing reputation in financial remedies work. She was recently instructed by Sadie in the published cases of M v F [2024] EWFC 393 and M v F [2024] EWFC 393 (No 2) (costs) and appeared with Philip in Mahtani v Mahtani (No. 2) (Adverse Inferences) [2025] EWFC 35 (Fam), in which court made a lump sum order in favour of the wife of £13.9m having drawn adverse inferences as to the likely extent of the husband’s wealth due to his non-engagement and non-disclosure. CONTENTS Chapter One – Introduction: What Is a Short Marriage and Why Is It Relevant? Chapter Two – How to Assess the Length of a Marriage Chapter Three – Needs in a Short Marriage Case Chapter Four – Sharing in a Short Marriage Case Chapter Five – Compensation in a Short Marriage Case Chapter Six – Housing in a Short Marriage Case Chapter Seven – Income Needs / Spousal Maintenance in a Short Marriage Case Chapter Eight – Pensions in a Short Marriage Case Chapter Nine – Agreements in a Short Marriage Case Chapter Ten – Conclusion