McCartneys to learn divorce deal
Written: 17th March, 2008
Sir Paul McCartney will find out later how much of his fortune he is expected to hand over to estranged wife Heather Mills in their divorce settlement.
The couple failed to reach an agreement in court last month, leaving the judge to determine the final figure.
Divorce experts have estimated Ms Mills could walk away with £60m of Sir Paul's estimated £825m fortune.
Speculation over the sum has been rife in the press, but Mr Justice Bennett is not obliged to reveal the details.
Hearings at London's High Court were held behind closed doors, and details of the settlement were not expected to be made public unless the case went to appeal.
However, a statement released by the Judicial Communications Office last month surprised some observers by saying Mr Justice Bennett could make his judgment public "in whole or in part".
It is thought he may publish his findings in order to end speculation over the size of the financial settlement, which could be the biggest in British history.
The current record rests with businessman John Charman, who was ordered to pay £48m to his ex-wife last year.
"Heather Mills is obviously going to get what in common terms is a large financial settlement," said Patricia Hollings, a divorce specialist with London legal firm Finers Stephens Innocent.
"How large it is going to be compared to his assets is another matter," she added, noting that Ms Mills may receive a consideration for keeping quiet about details of her marriage to the former Beatle.
"He [Mr Justice Bennett] may give her a heightened sum of money to make up for the fact that she won't be able to go out and publish her autobiography as she would like."
Ms Mills, 40, married Sir Paul, 65, in June 2002, four years after the death of his first wife Linda from breast cancer.
The couple, who have a four-year-old daughter Beatrice, announced the end of their marriage in 2006.
Source BBC news