Quote:

 

CRICKET star Michael Clarke has sought legal advice to protect his multi-million-dollar fortune should he break up with fiancee Lara Bingle.
They have not seen each other or spoken for two days after Clarke rushed home from New Zealand furious that Bingle had sold a tell-all interview to a women's magazine.

With Clarke holed up in their $6 million Bondi beachfront apartment, Bingle has moved out to stay with socialite friend Hermione Underwood.

Her mum Sharon Bingle arrived to comfort her daughter on Thursday morning only to leave in tears, distressed by the waiting media pack.

Family law experts said the two-year engagement between Clarke and Bingle was treated the same as a marriage under de facto laws introduced in March last year.

But they said Bingle would have to prove she contributed significantly to their lifestyle to lay claim to any of her fiance's assets.

Clarke has proved himself a canny property investor with five properties - all in his own name. They include the Bondi beachfront apartment that he's shared with Bingle since he bought it in August.

Bingle is not mentioned on the title deeds.

It is not known whether Clarke and Bingle signed a co-habitation agreement before they began living together about three years ago at Clarke's $2.8 million waterfront home in Lilli Pilli.

But legal experts said she would probably get to keep her 4.7-carat pear-shaped diamond engagement ring, worth about $200,000, and the $250,000 Aston Martin that Clarke bought for her.

He would probably keep his Staffordshire terrier, Jerry, and Bingle would keep her two pomeranians.

Bingle was clutching one of her dogs, Winter, for comfort as she was driven away by Underwood in a black BMW. Her ring finger was clearly visible, showing a simple band rather than her diamond engagement ring.

Clarke emerged from the apartment late in the afternoon, sparking a media chase.

He quickly returned to the sanctuary of his luxury pad.

Clarke abandoned his teammates in New Zealand to fly home on Monday.

It's believed the move came after Bingle gave an exclusive interview with Woman's Day into the nude picture scandal that broke about 10 days ago.

She claims AFL bad boy Brendan Fevola circulated a nude photo of her taken in a shower when they had an affair in 2006 and is seeking to sue him in court.

Clarke was said to be opposed to Bingle granting the interview, saying it would resurrect old news and intrude on the couple's private life.

De facto couples were brought under the federal Family Law Act last year.



Family law expert Michael Taussig, QC, said it meant they were dealt with almost identically to married couples.

He said the Family Court had a four-step process.

First is to determine their assets and what they are worth; the second to look at their respective contributions to "acquiring and preserving" those assets.

Third is future needs, such as age or low earning capacity.

"Finally, the court stands back and considers that it all feels right," Mr Taussig said.

"There is no way on earth that (Bingle) will get half."



"I cannot comment on Lara and Michael at the moment," he said.

infotechproximity8

Jul 11 2010, 10:51 PM

And what's with lara bingle?
A famliar name, but can't quite place her?
___________________________________________

Ben 10 Games