Louis and his wife were married in Italy in the late 1970s and lived around the world supporting Louis’s career in the oil industry. Their only child had recently started her second year at university at the time of their separation. They used arbitration at the suggestion of their mediator to resolve the complexities of their finances, seeing their case conclude in six months.

What I wish I had known:

My guess is that almost every divorce will hit some rough patch which will be very emotional, painful and personal. For me this part was the biggest disappointment and the one I most struggled with. Because you are dealing with somebody who has a great insight into your life and personal information and a trained third person who is using this information in a rational manner (the opposite lawyer) and sometimes out of context there is very little defence possible other than taking it onto the chin or trying to pay back in a similar currency.

The emotional part of the divorce takes a very long time to come to terms with and no legal process will help you with this. You will have dreams (or better nightmares) for a long time. In my case it took me approximately 3 years from the time I moved out before they started disappearing.

The low point:

See above – the biscuit for me was when we received a letter portraying a timeshare investment, which was mainly done for our daughter, as ‘a **** poor investment decision’.

The certainty that I did the right thing:

What can I say – I AM VERY HAPPY AGAIN !!!!

One thing I would do differently:

Get advice earlier and leave sooner (or as dealers would say: cut your losses).