This may sound obvious, but you might be surprised how often people try to be “economical with the truth” and expect to get away with it. We have seen this recently in divorce claims.
In October 2015, the Supreme Court overruled earlier decisions and confirmed that Mrs Sharland and Mrs Gohil could apply for more money from their ex-husbands. The financial agreements made when they divorced were based on incorrect information because the husbands had failed to disclose the full extent of their wealth.
As a result, the wives, their lawyers and the courts were working from incomplete figures when deciding what financial settlement was fair.
Mr Sharland said he was bitterly disappointed with the outcome and suggested it could open the floodgates to reopening divorce cases. However, it is difficult to be surprised that the courts consider it important to ensure justice is done - that is, after all, their role.
These cases highlight a key principle in divorce proceedings: full and honest financial disclosure is essential. When couples separate, both parties are required to provide accurate information about their finances so that a fair settlement can be reached.
If it later becomes clear that one party deliberately hid assets or provided misleading information, the court has the power to revisit the agreement and potentially change the financial outcome.
The message is straightforward: if you want the law to work in your favour, be open and honest. Trying to conceal information may not only undermine the fairness of the process but could also lead to further legal action later on.
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