'Joint lives' maintenance awards fall in North ============================================== !['Joint lives' maintenance awards fall in North](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/294f42d071414a69fd79523bc4f10d68.jpeg)According to new research from a Manchester-based firm, increasing numbers of women are flocking down to London to have their divorces heard in the capital. The claim is that far fewer 'joint lives'maintenance orders are now being granted in the north of England than in the south, particularly in London. Consequently, women are attempting to get a better maintenance deal by heading south. This apparent disinclination on the part of northern courts to make longer-term or indefinite maintenance awards has grown in the last eighteen months, in a shift [described](https://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed145972) as a "sea change" in the research, which analysed some 900 cases. The findings come after the Ministry of Justice revealed that successful maintenance awards had dropped generally, suggesting a larger shift towards ongoing financial support for wives post-divorce. However, the suggestion here is that London is still markedly more inclined towards periodical maintenance payments, which seems to support London's continued status as the world's divorce capital. However, this does not seem to be particularly new information; rather, it confirms what we already knew. [Back in 2009](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210635/Couples-face-great-North-South-divorce-divide.html) lawyers already harboured an inkling that district judges in the north were markedly more pro-husband than their southern counterparts, in that they were less likely to make orders for ongoing spousal maintenance. While there may be evidence of a north-south divide, it also could be simply that the north is offering us a foreshadowing of the changing times. An apt example of this is the [much-publicised case of Tracey Wright](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/get-a-job-judge-tells-exwife-of-millionaire-vet-in-landmark-blow-to-mealticket-settlements-10064662.html), in which the ex-wife of a millionaire racehorse surgeon was told - in no uncertain terms - to seek employment rather than to rely on her husband's periodical maintenance payments after he retires. This case was heard in London's High Court. Read more about our [top lawyers for child maintenance](https://vardags.com/law-guide/basic-principles/child-maintenance-support) matters and how they cater for HNW and UNHW individuals. Alternatively, read more about [child maintenance and failures to pay](https://vardags.com/law-guide/parental-responsibility/failure-to-pay-child-maintenance). "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) More Divorce news ----------------- [British divorcee jailed for blackmailing ex-wife over 'revenge porn'](https://vardags.com/family-law/british-divorcee-jailed-blackmailing-ex-wife-revenge-porn "British divorcee jailed for blackmailing ex-wife over 'revenge porn'") [English pensions and overseas divorces](https://vardags.com/family-law/english-pension-and-overseas-divorces "English pensions and overseas divorces") ['Joint lives' maintenance awards fall in North](https://vardags.com/family-law/joint-lives-maintenance-awards-fall-in-north "'Joint lives' maintenance awards fall in North") [Cost of divorce set to increase](https://vardags.com/family-law/cost-of-divorce-set-to-increase "Cost of divorce set to increase") [Get down the aisle on time or face divorce risk](https://vardags.com/family-law/get-aisle-time-face-divorce-risk "Get down the aisle on time or face divorce risk")