According to recent reports, Elin has sought $750,000,000.00 from Tiger
as part of their divorce proceedings. According to the Australian Herald
Sun, if she succeeds, this would be the most expensive celebrity divorce to date.
What would Ontario judges think of this $750 million proposal?
Ontario judges would think that Elin needs to be more specific. The major
financial issues in Divorce cases include
spousal support,
child support, and
equalization. So, Ontario judges would require Elin to explain, in detail, whether
this $750 million is meant to settle all three of these issues and why
she believes she is entitled to this sum of money.
It is also reported that Elin refused to sign a lifetime confidentially
clause, which would have prohibited her from speaking publicly about the
details of her marriage with Tiger. Although there is likely nothing Tiger
could do to stop Elin from speaking publicly about their marriage, Ontario
judges might grant him an order prohibiting both parties from speaking
disparagingly about each other in the presence or hearing of the children.
As the parties’ divorce is highly publicised, this might prevent her
from speaking publicly about Tiger in any negative way. However, even
if this were ordered, it would be difficult to enforce.
Another option for minimizing the publicity surrounding this divorce is
mediation and/or arbitrations. If Tiger and Elin chose to resolve their dispute via mediation or arbitration
instead of going to the courts, this would not force her to be silent
about their marriage, but it would make this dispute less public. This
is because Ontario family law decisions are usually published so that
are accessible to the public. Mediation and arbitration are private. So,
these alternatives could provide Tiger more privacy than traditional litigation.