Financial provision on divorce, etc.
9 Principles to be applied.
1
The principles which the court shall apply in deciding what order for financial provision, if any, to make are that—
a
the net value of the matrimonial property should be shared fairly between the parties to the marriage F1or as the case may be the net value of the partnership property should be so shared between the partners in the civil partnership;
b
c
any economic burden of caring,
F3i
after divorce, for a child of the marriage under the age of 16 years
F4ii
should be shared fairly between the F5persons;
d
a F6person who has been dependent to a substantial degree on the financial support of the other F6person should be awarded such financial provision as is reasonable to enable him to adjust, over a period of not more than three years from
F9i
the date of the decree of divorce, to the loss of that support on divorce,
F10ii
the date of the decree of dissolution of the civil partnership, to the loss of that support on dissolution,
2
In subsection (1)(b) above and section 11(2) of this Act—
“economic advantage” means advantage gained whether before or during the marriage F11or civil partnership and includes gains in capital, in income and in earning capacity, and “economic disadvantage” shall be construed accordingly;
“contributions” means contributions made whether before or during the marriage F11or civil partnership; and includes indirect and non-financial contributions and, in particular, any such contribution made by looking after the family home or caring for the family.