Ex-wife tells Family Court she needs $4000 a week for personal expenses

COULD you make ends meet on a $3000 a week allowance? A judge has told a woman she is not entitled to be maintained in the same standard of living as before she split from her husband.

A PAMPERED wife’s bid to maintain her luxury lifestyle failed when the Family Court refused to make her ex pay her $4000 a week — $208,000 a year — in living expenses.

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Instead, Justice Hilary Hannam told Ms Moller — a court-given pseudonym — that she was not entitled to be maintained in the same standard of living as before the split.

Ms Moller was also reminded that although she was the primary career for their two primary school-aged children, she also had the capacity to earn a living, having worked as a professional and run a business before starting their family. Throughout their marriage, the couple enjoyed a “very high standard of living”, funded by Mr Moller’s $1.5 million average annual income.

In their final year together, Ms Moller estimated they spent $150,000 to $200,000 on family holidays “away” at the end of each school term.

In their final year together, a woman estimated she and her husband spent $150,000 to $200,000 on family holidays ‘away’ at the end of each school term.

Justice Hilary Hannam ruled an ex-wife’s necessary personal expenses could not amount to $4000 a week.

She went to court seeking interim spousal maintenance before a final property settlement, requesting a $1700 increase to the weekly $2300 Mr Moller provided her during their marriage and continued to pay after their split.

He is also already paying most of the children’s costs, including private school fees, mortgage payments and rates on the family home where his ex-wife and children live.

Ms Moller put her personal average weekly expenses since the split at $1405, including $300 for holidays and $150 for hairdressing and toiletries. The court found her listed household expenditure included ­“extraordinary” claims, such as $1000 a week for food — $300 for her and $700 for her children — $1530 a week for holidays and $350 for cleaning.

Mr Moller said he had just $3191 left from his weekly $30,200 income after meeting loan and personal expenses, but suggested he could pay an extra $700 a week.

Justice Hannam said Ms Moller’s necessary personal expenses could not amount to $4000 a week and adopted Mr Moller’s suggested $700 a week increase, setting spousal maintenance at $3000 a week

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