Archive for August, 2008

It might not be common knowledge, but the UK is the most wife friendly country in Europe in which to get divorced. In other words, if you’re a woman wanting to get divorced in the UK, you’ll get a better deal than your counterparts across Europe.

In the UK, women with children can claim more than half of their husband’s assets in a divorce, anything as high as 65% of the net worth. If this doesn’t seem fair, it’s because it’s not (as perfectly illustrated with this cartoon image). There’s also very little a man can do to protect himself as prenuptial agreements aren’t recognised by UK courts.

The best advice would be not to get married at all, but then that doesn’t always save you either. Simply living with a woman can be classed as a common law wife and she can then strip you of all of your possessions.

It’s probably best to stay away altogether

Clive Bellmore

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If ever a reason to outlaw surrogate pregnancy was needed, this is it. A baby born in India for Japanese parents has been left homeless after the waiting parents got divorced.

Because of Indian law, the baby’s father (the Japanese man) cannot take custody of the baby because he has divorced the baby’s mother (well, not the baby’s real mother).

The man and his wife arrived in India, in Ahmedabad, 12 months ago to find a surrogate mother to give them a child. However while the mother was pregnant with the baby, the Japanese couple were divorced.

Because of bombings in Ahmedabad, the baby was moved for her safety to a new location, where she is now. The father wants to take the baby back to Japan, but he has to leave India due to an expired visa.

Sanjay Arya is a doctor looking after the baby:

Doctor Yamada got divorced around mid-June, and after his divorce, he came alone to claim the custody of the child. But, according to the Indian laws, a single father cannot adopt a girl child. This is a major legal hassle arising in this case. But the question is when the child has father’s 50 per cent DNA, where does the point arise of him having to adopt the child as he is her natural father.

Due to the lapse laws in India, it’s become a major destination for surrogate births. However, as parents have to adopt the children they want from the surrogate mother, the adoption laws in India make it difficult for single men to adopt girls. This is where the girl’s father is having trouble.

The real loser in all of this of course is the baby girl herself, who is being kept from her father and was born to a mother who didn’t want her, she only wanting paying for giving birth to her.

Clive Bellmore

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As if China wasn’t repressed enough, now you’re not allowed to register for divorce on August 8th in Zhengzhou, China, the opening day of the Olympic games.

The number 8 is considered a lucky number in China, with many believing that the number brings fortune and happiness. With the Olympics opening on August 8th, the date has even more significance for the Chinese. Almost 1,000 couples are expected to get married on the date in Zhengzhou, which leaves the city’s authorities fully stretched. As a result, they’ve announced that no one will be able to apply for divorce on that day, as there’s no one there to approve it.

Anyone looking to get married on that day in China will have to have booked it by now, as there’s no room left. Anyone wishing to apply for divorce on that day will be out of luck.

That’s just favouritism really!

Clive Bellmore

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Divorce isn’t always something you can laugh at, at least not at the time. Sometimes you can laugh later though, years later in most cases. Therefore it’s always nice to have the odd chuckle at the expense of a divorce, and recently the subject of most people’s chuckling has been celebrity divorces such as Paul McCartney and Heather ‘hopalong’ Mills.

You had to laugh at that one otherwise you’d just want to run her down in your car, then she’d probably sue you anyway, so laugh on.

This cartoon depicts the archetypal messy divorce between two clowns. At least they keep smiling though

Clive Bellmore

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The Americans have a way of advertising divorce lawyers don’t they? This billboard from the USA shows the benefits of getting divorced in a more carnal nature… you can go out and get better sex!

Obviously it doesn’t always work out this way; getting divorced doesn’t mean you’ll find loads of gorgeous women just queueing up for you, but at least you’ll be free to try your hand at it.

Of course, if you fail miserably, ‘your hand’ maybe exactly what you end up trying at it!

Clive Bellmore

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27-year-old Wales and Cardiff footballer Paul Parry claims he lost his place in the Welsh squad because of his bitter divorce from his wife Laura. Parry says it was his decision to make himself unavailable for the Welsh squad due to the stress he was feeling from the divorce, and the fight he has been having to gain access to his children.

Parry says that he’s put all of that behind him now though and wants to get back in the squad for Wales’ next game against Georgia.

I’ve been going through a divorce. I left my wife three years ago and it has been a long, drawn-out saga.

I am just glad to come through to the end of it now. My mind feels refreshed now but it has taken a lot out of me. I was suffering a lot of stress and I just needed some time out for myself.

That was the only reason I took that step back from Wales, I had to clear my mind. I’ve got two children from my previous marriage. Now I have a good relationship with my ex, everything is amicable and I can see my kids when I want to see them. So there is no problem with that.

Parry also insists that his decision to stay away from the Welsh side wasn’t because he didn’t want to play for Wales. He just need time to get his head right from his divorce.

Having been in his shoes (divorce now, not playing for Wales) I know it is hard to go to work knowing that you haven’t seen your kids for some time, and you don’t know when you’ll next see them. Taking himself out of the international spotlight was probably the best thing to do.

Good luck Paul, hope you get back in the squad soon and playing again for Wales.

Clive Bellmore

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