Parting couples should 'settle not litigate'

A divorcing couple could end up having to fork out over £1 million in legal fees, illustrating the fact agreeing a settlement is "always" a better option - according to a High Court judge.

Mr Justice Holman has been hearing the case of US lawyer Richard Fields, 59, and his fifth wife, 42-year-old Russian Ekaterina Fields, who have been married for around 10 years.  The pair, who have two children, disagree over how assets of about £6 million should be split.

And the senior judge, who is set to make rulings in the summer after hearing evidence in the Family Division of the High Court, has been informed that nearly a fifth of the fortune may have to be spent on paying their legal bills.

Mr Justice Holman has repeatedly called on the couple to settle and at one stage brought proceedings to a halt and suggested they speak to each other outside the London court.

Speaking towards the end of the case he said although settlement was "always, always" a better option than litigation the message was not being taken on board by divorcing couples.

Copyright Press Association 2015