10th May 2010

Following the recent General Election, new Conservative MP for Richmond Park, Zac Goldsmith, may be relishing the challenges facing him in his constituency, but only four days into his new parliamentary job, he will also take a step closer to the challenge of a major divorce financial settlement hearing as his Decree Nisi was issued on the 10th May.

Although various tabloid newspapers reported that Mr Goldsmith would "launch divorce proceedings" (the Daily Mail) on that day, and conversely, that the couple would "have their divorce finalised" by the issuing of the Decree Nisi (the Daily Mirror), Mr and Mrs Goldsmith will still have to wait six weeks and one day from the date of issue of the decree before they are able to apply for their Decree Absolute.

A spokesperson for the couple said, "Following their separation, Zac and Sheherazade are proceeding towards an amicable divorce, which reflects the best interests of all parties."

However, speculation was rife that the timing of the divorce hearing was linked to the election, but the spokesperson pointed out that it was "just the way the courts worked out."

Initial reports of the couple's separation appeared in the national press in August 2009, but at that time no details were released about the commencement of divorce proceedings.

It was speculated though, that the divorce financial settlement would be one of the largest ever in UK divorce law history as it was reported that Sheherazade Goldsmith could be in line to receive half of the newly appointed MP's reputed £300 million wealth.