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1

Court, case and hearing

Name of court
Bristol Family Court
Court address
Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre, 2 Redcliff Street, Bristol, BS1 6GR
Name of case
Thompson v Thompson
Case reference
BS24F00231
Name of judge
District Judge Hartley
Type of hearing
FDR
2

Background

Key dates in the relationship and proceedings.

Date of cohabitation
1 September 2008
Date of marriage
18 June 2011
Date of separation
12 November 2023* Applicant says 12 November 2023; Respondent says February 2024.
Duration of marriage
12 years, 4 months
Date of petition
5 February 2024
Date of decree nisi
14 August 2024
Date of Form A
4 March 2024
Date of first appointment
22 September 2024DDJ Patel sitting at Bristol.
Date of FDR
9 June 2026Listed before DJ Hartley, time estimate half a day.
3

The parties

Applicant

Name
Mrs Jessica Thompson
Age and D.O.B.
42 years · 12 February 1984
Occupation
Senior product manager
Net income
£46,800 per annum
Present address
14 Elmwood Drive, Bristol, BS6 7TH
Remarried / cohabiting?
No
Solicitors
LegalWonder Family
Priya Shah
priya.shah@legalwonder.co.uk
0117 555 0144
Barrister
Olivia Carter
Albion Chambers

Respondent

Name
Mr Andrew Thompson
Age and D.O.B.
43 years · 21 July 1982
Occupation
Self-employed software consultant
Net income
£78,400 per annum
Present address
27 Royal York Crescent, Bristol, BS8 4JX
Remarried / cohabiting?
Unsure
Solicitors
Carmichael & Hughes LLP
James Hughes
j.hughes@carmichaelhughes.co.uk
0117 555 0782
Barrister
Daniel Okafor
St John's Chambers
4

Children of the family

First nameCurrent ageDate of birthLives withSchool / nurseryCourt order?
Sophie1318 March 2013Primarily with applicantElmwood Primary SchoolNo
Henry94 August 2016Shared careElmwood Primary SchoolNo
5

Experts' reports

  • Property valuation – former matrimonial home

    22 January 2025

    Margaret Lawson, Lawson & Co Surveyors · Property

  • Pension on divorce report (PODE)

    9 April 2025

    Robert Mensah, Mensah Actuarial · Single joint expert (other)

6

Open offers

  • Applicant£525,000

    Offer 15 March 2025 · Response 29 March 2025

    55% of net capital, retain matrimonial home, equalise pensions to age 65.

    Response · Rejected; counter-offer to follow at FDR.

  • Respondent£410,000

    Offer 12 April 2025

    Sale of matrimonial home and 50/50 split of net proceeds; no pension sharing.

    Response · Awaiting formal response.

7

Legal costs (estimates)

ItemApplicantRespondent
Total incurred to date£18,400£22,100
Total outstanding£4,200£6,800
Projected to FDR / final hearing£12,500£15,000
Subject to s.22ZA funding?NoNo
8

Issues in the case

IssueApplicantRespondent
  • Asserting 'unmatched contributions'NoYes
  • Asserting 'conduct' per s.25(2)(g) MCA 1973NoNo
  • Asserting non-disclosure of capital wealthYesNo
  • Asserting non-disclosure of income resourcesYesNo
  • Agreement as to housing needsNoNo
  • Agreement as to income needsUnsureNo
  • Seek a departure from equalityNoYes
  • Willing to consider forms of ADRYesUnsure

Notes · Applicant queries undisclosed consultancy income via the Respondent's limited company; PODE report addresses pension equalisation methodology.

9

Orders sought at this hearing

Applicant

Property adjustment order transferring the matrimonial home to the Applicant, pension sharing order at 35% of the Respondent's SIPP, and a clean break following implementation.

Respondent

Order for sale of the matrimonial home with 50/50 split of net proceeds, dismissal of pension sharing claim, and an immediate clean break.

10

Other material information

Court template limits this to 80 words per party — bullet points only.

Applicant

  • Primary carer of two school-age children.
  • Reduced hours since 2019 to support childcare.
  • Mortgage capacity limited to ~£180k on current income.
  • Health condition affecting long-term earning capacity.

Respondent

  • Income variable due to consultancy work.
  • Supports elderly parent in part-rented property.
  • Disputes valuation of FMH as overstated.
  • Willing to mediate on pensions if needs agreed.