Hetty Gleave
- Partner
- Family & Divorce
Hetty Gleave featured in Tatler on dividing high-value art collections in divorce
Hetty Gleave, Partner in Wedlake Bell’s Family team, has been featured in The art of divorce: What happens when a high-value collection has to be divided?, published by Tatler, discussing the legal and practical challenges of dealing with valuable art collections during divorce proceedings.
The article explores how artwork is treated on divorce, including questions of ownership, valuation, disclosure, inheritance and the emotional significance attached to individual pieces. Drawing on her experience advising high-net-worth individuals, Hetty comments on the various approaches parties may take when dividing collections and the challenges involved in accurately valuing artwork.
Discussing the potential benefits of selling artwork rather than dividing it, Hetty notes that a sale can provide certainty over value by establishing the true market price. However, she highlights that a forced sale may not always achieve the best outcome, particularly where market conditions or sales strategies are unfavourable.
Hetty also comments on the practical realities of valuing art collections in divorce cases, explaining that valuations are often only indicative and that the true value of a work can only be determined when it is sold. She further discusses creative ways parties can divide collections, including alternative selection methods for artworks with significant personal value, as well as solutions for preserving inherited pieces for future generations.
Read the full article in Tatler.
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