It matters not what the public think of Heather McCartney, Paul McCartney loved her enough to marry the woman and he should do what is right in divorce. Or does he plan on taking his £800 million to the grave, because he isn't going to be able to spend it before he dies. So Mr McCartney, show the world you are a man, pay up, put it all down to a bad experience and move on.
Solicitors should never be involved in divorce, they are just parasites of misery whose aim is to get a third of the pie.

David Thijm, Stourbridge, UK

I think its all pure greediness. Celebrities or not, you have pride and dignity which is worth more than millions of pounds. I am divorced and did not ask for a penny as I work hard, and I have self respect. I moved on, and I am on friendly terms with my ex. If only people realise that dignity is worth than 100 millions, they will stop fighting and the world would be a better place. Surely no one needs 100 million to live on.

Mrs P Webster, London,

Wow! You men really have it hard when it comes to divorce!

As a woman who has raised a child with minimal involvement from my ex and not a drop of child support, I really bleed for you!

I'd cry but I'm all cried out from 60-hour work weeks.

What with all this feminized justice system you have in UK, as posted above (what percentage of judges and laywers are women , by the way?) you ought to start a revolution.

Anna, California, US

What bitter men we have posting replies here. There is nothing "feminized" about the judicial system - unless you hold the view that a marriage is a partnership only to the extent that the man should have all the power in that partnership. Pre-nuptial agreements are increasingly recognised, but the only way they can definitively become binding is if the government legislates so. I also think that people are more than capable of being bitter and vindictive without any help from their lawyers, it just absolves their conscience.

Not sure about the idea of pre-divorce agreements though - at what stage do people go for them? When they are happily married, in which case I can't see anyone going out of there way to agree something like that (and why not get a pre-nup in that case?). And if their relationship is on the rocks, then it will more than likely end up a divorce - and if the bitterness is there on divorce, it would be likely there when working out what would happen on divorce

James, London,

Two suggestions on the road to civilisation:

* Remove "till death us do part " and all other such phrases denoting permanence.

* Go for fixed term marriages at the outset.

These would ensure that no-one made the mistake of believing it might last for ever.

David Williams, Eastnor, England

I've been through two 'good' divorces (ahem).
What is the point in making the partings hell? After all- if you can't get on, then splitting is surely giving you the freedom to be released from the awful relationship?
My second divorce was after a long and totally awful relationship. What I didn't know is that I'd been cheated on for 3/4 of our time together- I only found out after the Decree Absolute. I was completely cuckolded and the man I married was arrogant and astonishing in his stupidity- yet I managed to be civil throughout the divorce. It's the only thing to do. Not only that, but I processed the divorce through the system myself, saving lawyers' fees and giving me the advantage of understanding the process.
There were children involved although they were both his- yet I raised them as my own-and we do stay in touch.
It's difficult, no doubt about it. But the real question is- can you behave like a grown-up? There truly is satisfaction in rising above the situation.

Cathy, Crawley,

Mike in Malaga - you need to study the (A implies B) doesn't necessarily imply (B implies A) law of logic. Ahrons suggests that a prenumptial agreement should aid a peaceful divorce. If two people have a peaceful divorce, it doesn't necessarily mean they need a prenup to do so.

As for Charles, please do something about warning your brother-in-law!

Colin, Cambridge, UK

I know a lot of divorced people, but I've yet to meet a woman raising the kids who screwed over the husband with the money. I must travel in different circles. In my own case I will always support my ex after the kids have left for as long as I am able. We were together for 20 years and I am as much responsible for her well being as I am for my children. We made a decision early on to persue my career and raise our kids. If the shoe was on the other foot (which it isn't), I think she would do the same for me. You walk through life one time. I want to hold my head up, while I'm doing it.

Larry, stratford,

I don't know if it is the same there, but here in the U.S., I have to lay some blame on the lawyers handling divorce cases. I know from experience that even when couples want to part on as friendly terms as possible, their respective lawyers want to foster and encourage a combative mentality. Until something is done to change the mind-set of the legal system, couples who are divorcing are going to have a very difficult time keeping a cool head while dealing with both the emotional trauma of a split and lawyers who want to encourage them to think of their former marriage partners as enemies to be routed and plundered.

Merrilee, Memphis, USA

Seems like if you can live under the same roof as your former spouse, raise children, and be good friends, you probably shouldn't have gotten divorced. I'm glad divorces are acrimonious, it counters the our disposable, consumerist culture that sees marriage as something to get out of when you get a little bored.

Doug, London,

what a profound article.

"if only we could be nicer to each other and treat people with respect and dignity the world would be a better place."

why didn't someone think of that before? perhaps aloing the lines of "do unto others..."

JR, London,

"Sarah Ferguson and the Duke of York, despite their separate lives, are on good terms with their children and each other."
And did they draw up a pre-nuptial agreement and pre-divorce agreement à la Ahrons?

Mike , Malaga, Spain

Entirely reasonable suggestions that will surely go nowhere until pre-nups are properly recognized by the British courts. That seems to be an unlikely prospect, as the "justice" system is so feminized, and pre-nups are, peculiarly, seen as benefitting men.

Nick , Rotherham, UK

Having expierience it I believe that most of the antagonism and aggro is fueled and provoked by the legal teams and solicitors.The more aggro they can create lengthens the case and thereby increases their costs.I know through bitter experience and my cost.Surely counselling as a first step should be an obligation before the solicitors are allowed to be involved.

tony, alicante, spain

You seem to be missing a very important point. Sir Paul has not said one word about Heather Mills since they have separated. All the public insults are very one sided. You made it sound like they both embarrassed themselves on tv and posed with a sad face for Hello. The only one who did that is Heather Mills. One of the big problems with "celebrity" divorce is the coverage, and you proved my point.

Denise Cording, New Jersey, USA

Magnus completely misses the point, because for some women, like my child abusing sister in law, (who got custody,) the aim post divorce is not to calculate what one might need, or want for the future, but to hurt their ex husband as much as possible.

Some women are so ingrained with the "now we're not married I might as well take everything he has" spite that an amicable divorce isn't possible. In my sister in law's case it's in the genes, for her sister too is planning to leave her husband (in 4 years when the child is schooled) for a guy she knew at school. She even conned her chap into a huge article on their successful business in your own newspaper, so when she leaves him she will be able to recall on him saying things like "I'd be nothing without my wife." Of course she's not done anything at all, but what man when faced with a question "what did your wife contribute?" would answer honestly. It's a pity he doesn't know what's coming.

Charles, London,