Damien Hirst & Maia Norman
Twenty years together, three children, no marriage -- and limited legal rights
Key Facts
What Happened
Damien Hirst, the world's richest living artist, and fashion designer Maia Norman were together for nearly twenty years and had three sons. Despite the length of their relationship and their substantial shared life, the couple never married. Hirst often referred to Norman as his 'common-law wife,' a term that carried emotional but limited legal weight in England.
The relationship ended in 2012 when Norman left Hirst for former army officer Tim Spicer. The split was notable not just for the celebrity involved but for the staggering wealth at stake -- Hirst's fortune was estimated at hundreds of millions of pounds, bolstered by his groundbreaking 2008 Sotheby's auction that generated nearly $200 million in a single evening.
Because the couple never married, Norman had severely limited legal claims to Hirst's fortune under English law. Without marriage, there are none of the automatic rights to property division that married couples enjoy. Norman's potential claims were limited to child maintenance and housing provisions for their children under the Children Act 1989, but she had no independent claim to Hirst's art empire or accumulated wealth.
The case became a cautionary tale about the legal vulnerabilities of long-term cohabitation without marriage, particularly in England and Wales where 'common-law marriage' has no legal recognition. Despite twenty years of shared life and three children, Norman's legal position was fundamentally different from what it would have been had they been married for even a single year.
Legal Breakdown: Cohabitation rights and the financial vulnerability of unmarried long-term partners
No Common-Law Marriage in England
Despite popular belief, 'common-law marriage' has no legal recognition in England and Wales. Regardless of how long a couple cohabitates or whether they have children, an unmarried partner has no automatic right to the other's property, pension, or financial assets upon separation.
Children Act Claims
Norman's primary legal avenue was through the Children Act 1989, which allows an unmarried parent to claim financial provision for children, including housing. However, such provision is for the children's benefit and typically ends when the youngest child finishes education -- it is not equivalent to spousal maintenance.
Cohabitation Agreements
Had the couple executed a cohabitation agreement, Norman could have secured contractual rights to a share of assets. These agreements, while not automatically enforceable in the same way as marriage-based claims, can provide significant protection for unmarried partners.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Common-law marriage is a myth in many jurisdictions, including England and Wales -- cohabitation alone creates no automatic financial rights upon separation.
- →If you choose not to marry, consider a cohabitation agreement that specifies property rights, financial arrangements, and separation terms.
- →Unmarried parents can claim child maintenance and housing for children, but these claims are far more limited than spousal claims in divorce.
- →Protect your financial independence in unmarried relationships -- maintain separate accounts, document contributions to shared assets, and seek legal advice about your rights.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.