Sinels were involved, on behalf of the wife, in ‘long running ancillary relief proceedings’ (the “Family Proceedings”).
The Family Proceedings began after the husband filed his petition for divorce in Jersey in 2017 and ran until settlement in 2023.
For more details on how our team approaches these matters, visit our Matrimonial & Family Law practice page.
You may view these posts here (also featured on our LinkedIn profile). We will recount the proceedings and some of the issues involved.
These blog posts may be of particular use to family and trust practitioners, or those with an interest in trusts generally. The posts also contain information on how the Family Court can approach the issue of trusts in the context of financial claims within a divorce.
Further, it may be of interest to those who use, or wish to use, asset protection trusts (“APTs”); by which we mean a trust used as a vehicle to hold a person’s assets for the purpose of shielding them from creditors or potential creditors.
This could include a spouse, and claims relating to divorce and ancillary relief.
Accordingly, the information shared and the example below will be of interest to any spouse whose husband, or wife, uses APTs.
We have split the matter up into 8 easily digestible parts:
- An introduction to the case;
- Key directions;
- Intervenors within the Family Proceedings;
- The trustee’s perverse decision not to add the wife as named beneficiary;
- Trustee directions hearings dealing with issues of resignations and a private trust company;
- Beneficiary entitlement to costs from the Trust;
- Private FDR; and
- The Court’s ability to sit as one Court exercising jurisdictions of multi divisions of the Royal Court.
To capture the human reality behind these complex legal and financial mechanics, we turn to the words of our client herself:
“When I first came to Sinels, my world had completely collapsed.
After a decades long marriage, I was facing a divorce in my sixties, threatened with eviction from my own home, and left with no money to even fund a legal team.
I even faced eviction from my flat, which looking back now seems impossible to believe.
The family wealth was locked away in a complex offshore trust, and I wasn’t even recognised as a named beneficiary. I felt defenceless.
The team at Sinels changed everything. They stepped in with incredible kindness, yet fought fiercely on my behalf.
They immediately secured my maintenance so I could finally breathe, and then successfully took the trustees to court just to secure my rightful status.
Over five incredibly stressful years, their attention to detail was staggering. They brought in independent experts who uncovered the true value of the trust—effectively doubling the figures I had originally been presented with. But rather than dragging me through what could have been a bitter, public trial, Philip and the team expertly guided us through a private dispute resolution that finally unblocked the hostilities.
The multi-million-pound settlement they secured gave me my life, and my future, back. I will never forget how patient and supportive everyone at Sinels was when my brain felt like cotton wool and I had nowhere else to turn.
They didn’t just provide brilliant legal strategy; they protected me when I was most vulnerable.
I honestly cannot recommend them highly enough“.
This testament demonstrates the profound impact of combining rigorous asset and trust litigation with a resolute commitment to achieving practical, commercial finality for our client.
Secure Your Position. Protect Your Family’s Future.
Navigating complex family trust structures, offshore assets, or high-net-worth divorce requires more than standard legal representation—it demands uncompromising strategy and absolute discretion.
If you’re facing a high-stakes matrimonial dispute or need expert guidance on trust litigation, don’t wait until hostilities escalate.
Speak confidentially with our litigation team today to secure your position.
Request a Confidential Consultation with Sinels Advocates
Further Reading
- Family Law Guidance — Jersey Law Commission Explore official statutory overviews and legal frameworks governing divorce, matrimonial property division, and ancillary relief proceedings within the Bailiwick of Jersey.
- Contentious Trusts & Succession — Jersey Legal Information Board Access judgments, trustee directions precedents, and statutory commentary regarding the administration of offshore trusts and beneficiary rights in local courts.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal or financial advice.
The contents reflect specific historical litigation and general principles of Jersey law and trust administration as applicable to the discussed scenarios; however, every legal matter is unique and depends on its own specific facts and circumstances.
Reading this article, or communicating with Sinels Advocates, does not create a formal solicitor-client relationship. You should not act or rely upon any information contained herein without seeking professional legal counsel tailored to your specific circumstances.