The High Court has given a respondent in ongoing divorce proceedings 12 weeks to produce the financial documents required to support his Affidavit of Means.
Ms Justice Nuala Jackson made the order on 4 November 2025 after considering an application by C.N. to strike out T.N.’s replying affidavit and counterclaim because his financial affidavit had not been vouched.
The divorce proceedings began with a Special Summons issued on 26 September 2024. T.N. swore a replying affidavit, including a counterclaim, and an Affidavit of Means on 10 February 2025. The court was told that the financial affidavit had still not been vouched.
Under the applicable Superior Court rules, vouching is required within 21 days of a request. The judge noted that letters seeking the documents had been sent from at least January 2025 and that the issue had been actively before the court since April.
T.N. referred to ill health and difficulties obtaining legal representation. Ms Justice Jackson said the court had considerable sympathy for his health problems and recognised that legal representation was desirable in complex family law cases. However, she said the absence of a lawyer could not be allowed to stall proceedings indefinitely.
The judge also noted that T.N. was legally qualified and said there was no particular technical difficulty in providing the required financial documentation.
She expressed concern that T.N. had been directly messaging C.N., who was legally represented, with repeated proposals to negotiate a settlement. The court said financial settlement discussions would ordinarily require proper vouching first.
T.N. was given until 26 January 2026 to complete disclosure. The strike-out motion was adjourned to 9 February. If the documents had been provided, the judge said she expected to strike out the motion, subject to any other issues. If not, she would hear and determine it.
Costs were reserved.