A friend’s wife left him 20 years ago, and was granted maintenance by the courts. He is now 65 and drawing his pension. Does he still have to pay his wife her £14-a-week maintenance? The husband says he’s required to keep up payments until either his wife re-marries or he dies!
Either party to a maintenance order can apply for it to be changed, or even cancelled, as new circumstances arise. In your friend’s case, his wife could have (and probably should have) applied for several cost-of-living increases during the 20 years since they separated. Now however, depending on the wife’s circumstances, the court may cancel the order, especially if the wife is drawing her pension too. Your friend should see a solicitor.