Judge to rule on Paul McCartney's divorce

One of history's most bitter alimony feuds is nearing an end with former Beatle Paul McCartney expected to find out next week how much of his fortune he must hand over to estranged wife Heather Mills.

With the world's media poised to pore over every detail of any judgment, it is unclear whether judge Hugh Bennett will make public all or part of his decision, due to be handed out at London's High Court on Monday (local time).

The ruling may not spell the end of one of the most bitter and high-profile break-ups in legal history.

If either is unhappy, they can apply for permission to challenge the ruling in the Court of Appeal.

Unlike the closed hearings so far, those proceedings would be in open court.

``I don't think there's ever been a divorce case that has attracted so much publicity, certainly in Britain, and there probably won't be ever again,'' said Alan Kaufman, family lawyer at Finers Stephens Innocent.

McCartney, 65, married former model and charity campaigner Mills, 40, in 2002, but they split four years later, blaming media intrusion into their private lives.

They have a daughter Beatrice, aged four.

Media and public attention intensified in the following months, with tabloid newspapers printing lurid stories about Mills's past and generally casting McCartney, seen as an icon in Beatles-mad Britain, as the innocent party.

At one point, though, McCartney vowed to defend himself in court against accusations published in newspapers that he physically attacked Mills during their marriage.

Mills issued strongly worded statements, threatened to sue newspapers and held a series of emotional live television interviews last year in which she accused the media of branding her a ``gold-digger''.

Her main adviser quit over the interviews, and days later she parted ways with her lawyer.

In recent court hearings Mills has represented herself.

Since the split was announced in May, 2006, newspapers and commentators have speculated about the size of any settlement.

Initial reports put the bill at up $432.25m or a quarter of what McCartney's fortune is estimated to be worth.

Recent figures have been closer $108m, which would still be the largest divorce settlement in British legal history, surpassing the $103.7m paid by insurance magnate John Charman.

Via news.co.au