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MP faces substantial divorce payout after adultery |
Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith is facing a multi-million pound divorce settlement with his estranged wife after admitting adultery.
The millionaire minister admitted in court documents to cheating on Sheherazade Goldsmith with heiress Alice Rothschild and the couple have now been granted a decree nisi.
Since his wealth is estimated to be in the region of £200 to £300 million, Mrs Goldsmith could receive a divorce payout worth much more than the £24.3 million Sir Paul McCartney paid to Heather Mills in 2008.
However, since much of Mr Goldsmith's fortune comes from his father's inheritance, it is unlikely that his estranged wife will receive half of his money.
"Zac and Sheherezade are proceeding towards an amicable divorce, which reflects the best interests of all parties," a spokesperson commented.
According to DivorceAid.co.uk, there are no set guidelines for a court to follow during divorce and each case depends on the circumstances of both parties. The advice website recommends seeking counsel from a family law expert to facilitate the process.
Neale Grearson, a family law partner at Kester Cunningham John, adds: "There are guidelines for divorce settlements which set out the basic factors to be taken into account by a court, but judges still have a large amount of discretion on individual cases.
"Of increasing importance is the husband and wife taking more control of their own situation and trying to reach an agreement, as seems to be the case here, with approaches such as collaborative law and mediation now being pursued by many. These alternatives allow a couple to try to agree a financial settlement in a much more amicable and constructive way, rather than leaving a judge to make decisions for them."
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