The Judge concluded that the parties had permanently separated by late August 2020 and he did not accept the husband’s argument about a trial separation. The Court looked at the parties’ actions after August 2020. Key factors the Judge pointed to, in disagreeing with the husband, were:

• The husband had transferred all of the bills into the wife’s sole name in August 2020 when he moved out;
• The husband took a 12-month tenancy at his rented accommodation;
• The husband initiated Children Act proceedings shortly after leaving the home.