Singer Adele recently filed for divorce from her husband of three years. Adele’s divorce will take place in the US but if it had taken place in the UK, her ex-spouse may have argued for a share of up to 50 percent of her wealth, private client law firm Boodle Hatfield has noted.

So just how are the particular assets of actors, writers and musicians, such as royalties income, handled on a divorce? This is income earned during the marriage that may not be received for many years after a divorce and therefore requires careful consideration. 

James Ferguson, head of the family team at Boodle Hatfield, has looked into...