Shelley Kavanagh says her divorce left her homeless, heavily indebted and suicidal after she took out a high-interest litigation loan to fund legal costs. The article argues that such loans can turn divorce settlements into financial crises, particularly for women who may have left employment to care for children and lack independent resources.

Kavanagh’s £360,000 loan, secured against a £5.5 million Surrey home at 18 per cent annual interest, reportedly consumed most of her share of the property’s equity when it was sold in 2021; combined litigation-loan debts with her former husband exceeded £800,000. The article cites wider concerns over weak oversight following legal-aid cuts, noting a 2025 Civil Justice Council recommendation for regulation and calls for clearer disclosures and affordability checks.