£36,000 per week for the basics!

A divorce settlement in Conneticut may be set to hit a new high. According to recent media reports, a former investment banker and Swedish countess is demanding almost £36,000 ($54,000) per week to cover her basic living expenses.

This figure includes the following weekly allowances:

• $250 for a personal trainer
• $4,500 clothes allowance
• $1,000 on hair and skin treatments
• $1,500 for restaurants and entertainment
• $700 for limousines
• $8,000 travel allowance
• Maintenance allowance for three properties in Sweden and a property in New York

In addition, Mrs Douglas-David is demanding $130,000 per month alimony, nearly $390,000 in legal fees, and wishes to keep jewellery and two Mercedes cars.

Mr and Mrs Douglas-David married in 2002, but the marriage soon ran into difficulties. The couple signed a post-nuptial agreement in 2005, following a series of reconciliations. The terms of the post-nuptial agreement allowed Mrs Douglas-David $43,000,000 on divorce. Taking Mrs Douglas-David’s weekly rate of spending into account, the sum would be spent in less than 16 years!

Mrs Douglas-David is now claiming that she was coerced into signing the agreement by her husband, and has applied to the Conneticut Court to have the agreement invalidated.

Family expert Kim Aucott at George Davies Solicitors said “This case has left many people amazed for the fantastic sums claimed by Mrs Douglas-David for her maintenance but it is her challenge to the post-nuptial agreement that is interesting in the light of a recent appeal from a Court decision in the Isle of Man. The Privy Council ruled that a post-nuptial agreement is valid and enforceable so provided there is no fraud, mistake or duress by the parties the Court could vary the amount of any maintenace agreed in the post-nuptial agreement.”