High Court “Ample Means” Divorces and Judicial Separation Double in the last 5 years

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What Defines an “Ample-Means” Divorce?
An “ample-means” divorce typically involves:

• High-value assets: Multiple properties, business interests, investments, pensions
• Significant income streams: Executive salaries, dividends, royalties, or trust funds
• Complex financial structures: Offshore accounts, family trusts, corporate holdings

What are the figures telling us?  And what are the reasons?
 
Rising Applications in the High Court
​Applications for Divorce and Judicial Separation brought before the High Court rose by 35.5% in 2023, climbing from 71 cases in 2022 to 91.  This represents a return to levels last seen in the early 2000s, a period when lower wealth thresholds made High Court access more attainable. 

A Surge in High-Value Cases
There has been a near doubling of “big money” Divorce and Judicial Separation cases—from 46 in 2019 to 91 in 2023.  The High Court only hears cases where the parties' combined assets exceed €3 million, making it the venue for high net worth disputes.  In contrast, all other cases are processed through the Circuit Court, which operates throughout the country.
 
Decline in Regular Circuit Court Cases
Applications in the Circuit Court fell for the second consecutive year to 5,694—down 4.5% from 5,966 in 2022 and over 10% below the 2021 peak of 6,338.  This decline in more typical Divorce and Judicial Separation filings highlights the rising share of high-value cases.
 

Impact of Legal Reform and the Pandemic
The number of Divorce applications rose notably following the 2019 change in legislation, which halved the required separation period from four years to two.  This increase in Divorce filings has significantly outpaced the decline in Judicial Separations.  The Covid-19 pandemic has also contributed to the uptick.
 

Factors Driving Bigger Money Cases
The growth in high-value applications is likely driven by:

• Recovery in asset and property values in recent years
• An expanding pool of families with assets exceeding €3 million
• Increasing wealth from entrepreneurship and share-based remuneration
• A shift in wealth concentration away from traditional professions and toward sectors like finance, technology, and property

 

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