A woman who gave up her career to become a full-time mother has taken her former husband to court in a bid to receive a greater share of the family wealth.

Julia Hammans had a high paid job as a financial director when she married her husband Nicholas Hammans in 1983. Six years later she gave up her career so the couple could start a family.

At the time both had the same salary. Mr Hammans went on to have a successful career as an accountant and sometimes earned over £900,000 per year.

During their marriage, the couple enjoyed a high standard of living and by the time they split in 2004, Mrs Hammans valued their fortune at £11m.

Mrs Hammans received the £1.75m six-bedroom family home in 2005, as part of a larger divorce settlement.

However, she believed she was discriminated against in the divorce hearing because, following the judge’s ruling, her income is now 10 times lower her former husband’s.

Mr Hammans is now a multi-millionaire and lives in a £1.5m house with his new wife and their two young children.

Mrs Hammans took the case to the High Court this year, arguing that she is entitled to compensation from her former husband’s income to make up for the career that she sacrificed.

She wanted a sum of £2.6m. However, the judge ruled that Mr Hammans should only pay £400,000 and Mrs Hammans should sell her house to part-fund her future living expenses.

This, together with interest on her £1m savings, would provide her with £80,000 per year, which was enough for her to live on.

Mrs Hammans then took the case to the Court of Appeal, arguing that she should be able to keep her house and that her former husband should pay another £2.2m in addition to the £400,000.

The court of Appeal will announce its ruling at a later date.

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