Chen and Li married in their twenties and had a son. Chen, a demobilised military officer, was allocated a service apartment and bought a family home in his name together with his wife and son as co-owners. Over the years the marriage deteriorated into repeated conflict. The couple separated, and three years of negotiation produced no agreement.

Issue

Whether the marriage had irretrievably broken down, and how the two properties — one service apartment, one family home registered to three co-owners — should be divided.

Outcome

The firm acted for Chen. The court, having regard to the length of separation and the failure of reconciliation, dissolved the marriage by mediation, with the family home allocated and a compensation payment fixed, and contact arrangements made for the son.