The Supreme Court in London recently ruled on a divorce case involving Icelandic investor Auðunn Már Guðmundsson and his ex-wife, British artist Hsiao-Mei Lin. The case centered around whether WhatsApp messages sent by Auðunn could be considered a formal transfer of his ownership in a jointly held property during their divorce proceedings. The judge concluded that the WhatsApp messages were not legally binding, meaning that they did not constitute a valid assignment of Auðunn's share in the property.

The property in question is a house located in Tufnell Park, North London, valued at approximately £1.5 million, equivalent to over 260 million Icelandic krónur. This ruling has significant implications for how informal communications, particularly via messaging apps, are interpreted in legal contexts, especially concerning property rights in divorce cases. It highlights the importance of formal legal documentation in such disputes, rather than relying on electronic messages that may not meet legal standards.

This case has garnered attention not only due to its unusual nature—centering on digital communication—but also because it reflects broader societal changes in how communication is conducted and the potential ramifications in legal settings. As more people engage in informal messaging, this ruling may set a precedent for similar cases in the future, emphasizing the necessity for clarity and legality in matters of property and ownership during divorce.