TV chef Nigella Lawson and her art collector husband have been granted a Decree Nisi at the High Court in London.
The media say that this is the end of their 10 year marriage, but Nicola Whitley, expert divorce lawyer at Swain & Co explains, “A Decree Nisi does not end your marriage, Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi are still married at the moment.”
“To officially end their marriage, the couple have to wait for a Decree Absolute. This cannot be applied for befeore 6 weeks and one day from the date of the granting of the Decree Nisi (save for in exceptional circumstances).”
Nicola feels that this point needs to be made as often the media portray that the rich and famous achieve ‘quickie’ divorces which are unobtainable for the general population.
Nicola adds, “Divorce proceedings are the same, whoever you are and how ever much money you have. The Lawson/Saatchi divorce may seem fast, but it is not officially over yet.”