Ignore Court Orders At Your Peril

A wealthy Omani man who failed to pay to his ex-wife the financial settlement ordered by the court, or to cooperate with disclosure orders, faces arrest if he attempts to return to the UK.

When the couple’s marriage broke up, they were divorced under Omani law. However, the wife, a resident of the UK, sought and obtained orders in the UK court for financial relief (under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984) for herself and their children, who live with her.

The divorce took place in 2017 and the father remained in Oman, having not seen his children for many months at the time of the hearing. He did not comply with any of the court orders made and has not made the maintenance payments ordered.

In making a final financial order for maintenance and a lump sum, the judge also ruled that the husband should be committed to prison for three months for the failure to pay a matrimonial debt he clearly has the means to pay.