[steve@thaib]

First, if she has been here less than a year on a settlement visa you have something of a get out of jail card. The original visa they get is only for a year, you then have to do some more paperwork to say all is well and they then get indefinite leave to remain.

Second. These things are never cut and dried, there is no formula to work to. Any settlement will be decided on a day in court where both parties and their legal reps will get to have a very expensive argument.

UK courts will take into account what both sides brought to the party in the first place. If you had a house to start with and she had nothing it is very unlikely that she will walk away from a relatively short marriage with half, or anything like half.

If she has only been here a short time and is now groundlessly demanding big lumps of cash the courts will see right through her, with help from your hideously expensive brief.

If there are any children involved, all bets are off. Also, if there is any provable mistreatment (recorded assaults etc) that will be expensive, and quite right too. If there is any adultery involved you are fcuked, proper fcuked.

Divorce from a short marriage does not have to be expensive, depending on the time involved (how long were you married?) and the grounds for divorce (no fault divorces do not exist in the UK), she will get something but it will be on a sliding scale somewhere between nothing and everything.

A half decent divorce practitioner will deal with this, if it can be resolved on one court date, for around two thousand quid (which she will have to pay if you win). If that sounds expensive, try losing the argument.