Family Law Advice and Long-term Maintenance Claim (£770,000)

A former divorce client has brought a £770,000 professional negligence claim after her solicitors allegedly failed to protect her long‑term financial position despite clear evidence of her issues with her mental health.

The Claimant instructed the Defendant solicitors to act for her in divorce and ancillary relief proceedings. At the time, the Claimant suffered from significant and ongoing mental health conditions, which materially affected her earning capacity and ability to achieve financial independence.

The Claimant alleges that the Defendants failed to advise properly on interim and long‑term maintenance, failed to obtain and deploy appropriate medical evidence, and failed to present her case on the correct basis at a Financial Dispute Resolution hearing.

In particular, it is alleged that the Claimant was advised to accept a time‑limited spousal maintenance order, subject to a statutory bar preventing any future extension, despite her inability to increase her working hours without risking deterioration in her health.

The Claimant contends that, but for the Defendants’ negligence, she would have secured a significantly more advantageous maintenance outcome. As a result of the alleged failures, she suffered substantial financial loss and was deprived of the opportunity to obtain appropriate long‑term provision.

Temple issued an ATE policy to support the claim, mitigating adverse costs risk while the matter progresses.

The Temple Perspective

Professional negligence claims arising from family law advice often involve complex issues of causation, loss of chance, and expert evidence. Temple supports claimants pursuing high‑value professional negligence claims by providing ATE insurance solutions that mitigate adverse costs risk and enable meritorious claims to proceed with confidence.

Matter value: £770,000.

Case status:  ATE insurance policy issued, case ongoing.