R.I.P. Scout26
A judge has told the ex-wife of a millionaire racehorse surgeon to get a job as she has no right to be “supported for life” by her former husband.Lord Justice Pitchford told mother of two Tracey Wright, 51, that divorcees with children aged over seven should work for a living.Leading divorce lawyers believe the ruling will have a significant impact on future big-money divorce cases....Mr Wright, 59, was also ordered to pay her and the children £75,000 a year in maintenance and school fees.Last year, he went to the High Court to seek a reduction in his bills, claiming that it was unfair to expect him to support his ex-wife indefinitely, even after he retires, while she made “no effort whatsoever to seek work”....A family court judge told Mrs Wright to “just get on with it” and find a job, like “vast numbers of other women with children”. Now Lord Justice Pitchford in the Court of Appeal has rejected her challenge to the decision to slash her future maintenance....Judge Lynn Roberts last year agreed that there was no good reason why Mrs Wright had not done paid work since the divorce and criticised her for being “evasive” on her earning capacity.
She said: “I do not think the children will suffer if Mrs Wright has to work, and indeed a working mother at this stage of their lives may well provide them with a good role model. It is possible to find work that fits in with childcare responsibilities. I reject her other reasons relating to responsibilities for animals, or trees, or housekeeping.”
