London Court Refuses To Undo 'Accidental Divorce' Caused By Law Firm's 'Computer Error'

The legal goof-up happened after a staff at law firm mistakenly opened the file of the wrong couple (Mr & Mrs Williams) while applying for a final divorce order for a different client

Wrong couple divorced after computer error by law firm

Source : Canva

A London family court refused to overturn the divorce erronously granted to a couple after a top law firm made a "computer error" while applying for final order on divorce and got the wrong couple divorced. The law firm that got the wrong copule divorced is headed by Ayesha Vardag who is famous as "Diva Of Divorce" for dealing with "many high net worth and ultra high net worth family cases." 

Vardag's firm represented the woman seeking divorce from her husband from a marriage of 21 years.

The legal goof-up happened after a staff member at the law firm opened the file of the accidently divorced couple (Mr & Mrs Williams) while he wanted to apply for a final divorce order for a different client, the BBC reported.

It was after three days of the order being passed that the law firm realised the goof-up and applied against the accidental order seeking it to be declared void.

However, the family court judge Sir Andrew McFarlane dismissed the application to rescind the computerised order, the report said.

According to the report, reacting to the judges denial to revist the order, the 'divorce diva' Ayesha Vardag said that the judges decision effectively meant "the computer says no, you're divorced." 

According to the same report the woman applied for divorce in January 2023 following 21 years of marriage through Vardag's firm. In October, last year the solicitor appearing for Mrs William made the blunder while submitting the papers for another couple. In the said papers consent was given on Williams behalf for final order on divorce accidently.

Order On Divorce Final, Cannot Be Overtuned On 'Consent' 

Appearing for the husband, the lawyer argued that the the divorce order is "once-and-for-all" order and thus cannot be set aside by the consent of the parties. The counsel for Mr Williams told the court that the divorce order may only be rescinded by the court if found to be either void or voidable.

The London Family court Judge McFarlane in his order rejected the wife's plea to rescind order on account of a computer error. The judge observed that the arguments that the court order cannot be "rendered voidable" by her lack of consent. Reason for this was that she had authorised her solicitor to act for her and the court was entitled to accept the application for the final order made by them as being validly made on her behalf.

According to the same report, the judge also noted that the computer with its customary speed, granted the said divorce in 21 minutes. The judge further said that even if the order was voidable, there was "a strong public policy interest in respecting the certainty and finality that flows from a final divorce order and maintaining the status quo that it has established."

Interestingly, Ayesha Vardag's firm has fought cases for several high net worth clients including from Qatari princes, business tycoons, international footballers, celebrities and even the royalty.