Divorce Lawyers Directory Blog

Welcome to the Divorce Lawyer Blog, a resource for people in need of a lawyer. This consumer-friendly blog can be used as a central resource to answer your questions about divorce.

Kobe Bryant’s Wife to Get Huge Divorce Settlement

While Kobe Bryant’s divorce has not yet been finalized, initial reports indicate that his soon-to-be ex-wife, Vanessa, will receive a huge settlement including several pieces of property. Three of the couple’s Newport Beach mansions have already been transferred into her name. These properties are reportedly worth approximately $18.8 million.

Since Kobe and Vanessa never signed a prenuptial agreement, she is entitled to receive half of their marital assets in the divorce settlement. That should net her about $75 million plus additional money for spousal support and child support. Kobe and Vanessa also plan to share both physical and legal custody of their two daughters.

Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce in December, citing irreconcilable differences as the grounds. Kobe Bryant has had a reputation for marital infidelity for many years, dating back to an incident involving a young girl in Edwards, Colorado in 2004.

Interestingly, this has been a relatively low-profile divorce compared with other celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Demi Moore who have recently filed for divorce. The couple released a statement last month when the divorce was filed requesting that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.

posted by Andrew @ 9:40 AM 0 comments

Man Files for Divorce after 77 Years of Marriage

This is one situation that just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. A 99-year-old Italian man is filing for divorce after 77 years of marriage because he discovered his wife had an affair in the 1940s. The man discovered a packet of musty old love letters when clearing out an old chest of drawers in his house just before Christmas. When he confronted his wife, she admitted to the affair, and despite all of her pleas she was unable to talk him out of the divorce.

Something about this just seems wrong. The couple has five children, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild as part of their 77 year marriage. And while it is understandable that the discovery of an extramarital affair can lead to feelings of anger, betrayal, and heartbreak, this is not your ordinary situation. The affair occurred more than 60 years ago. At some point, it may be more appropriate to look the other way and forgive the person you have spent more than three quarters of a century with.

Very few people stay married for 50 years, and it is almost unheard of for a couple to exceed the 75 year mark. In those cases, you would expect the marriage to end in “till death do us part.” Unfortunately, that will not be the case for this Italian couple, and it is very sad to see such a long standing marriage end in divorce.

Perhaps there is a moral to this story. If you engaged in an extramarital affair more than a half century ago, discard the old love letters. What are you saving them for? They can only serve to hurt the person you have been married to your entire life.

posted by Andrew @ 12:48 PM 0 comments

Demi Moore to Divorce Ashton Kutcher

Actress Demi Moore has announced that she plans to file for divorce from her husband, Ashton Kutcher. The 49-year-old actress, who has starred in movies such as A Few Good Men and Ghost has been married to the newest star of the hit sitcom Two and a Half Men since 2005. Kutcher, who is 16 years younger than Demi Moore, has been rumored to have engaged in extramarital affairs.

Demi Moore released the following statement regarding her impending divorce: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six year marriage to Ashton. As a woman, a mother, and a wife, there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life.”

The actress is no stranger to failed marriages, as this is her third. Prior to Kutcher, she was married to rock musician Freddy Moore and then more notably to actor Bruce Willis.

posted by Andrew @ 10:09 AM 0 comments

Kim Kardashian Files for Divorce

Reality star Kim Kardashian is filing for divorce this morning. This announcement has been made just 72 days after she married her boyfriend, Kris Humphries. This may rank as the shortest marriage ever following a $10 million wedding. Perhaps her family will be a little more hesitant to spend the big bucks next time Kim decides to walk down the aisle.

Kardashian will not seek an annulment. She prefers to file for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences as her grounds. Her lawyer has handled several other high profile celebrity divorces, including those of Britney Spears, Maria Shriver, Angelina Jolie, and Ryan Reynolds.

The unhappy couple has not made any statements definitively explaining the reasons they decided to call it quits so soon after tying the knot. However, TMZ has speculated that a major issue with their marriage centered on where the couple would eventually live. The seven-year NBA veteran who currently plays for the Nets was intent on eventually moving back to Minnesota, where he grew up and played college ball. It seems that the frozen tundra does not agree with Kardashian, who prefers to stay near her family in Los Angeles. Southern California is also a much better location for her thriving career as a reality star.

It seems shocking that such an important detail as where they wanted to live long term never came up in a conversation before the wedding. But then again, they were only dating for nine months before getting married.

It is also possible that Kardashian has grown tired of Humphries living it up on her family’s money. Due to the NBA lockout, he has plenty of free time to go out and party with his friends.

posted by Andrew @ 12:32 PM 0 comments

Prenuptial Agreements and Same Sex Marriages

Several states, most notably New York, have legalized same sex marriages in recent years. While this has been a huge victory for human rights in general and the gay community in particular, it has also raised several new challenges for our legal system with regard to same sex divorce.

In many ways, the rules governing same sex divorces mirror those governing divorces between heterosexual couples. However, same sex marriages are often entered into under vastly different circumstances than heterosexual marriages. It is not uncommon for same sex couples who have been together for many years, and in some cases for decades, to get married when living in a state that has recently legalized same sex marriages.

In these long term relationships, couples typically have amassed a considerable amount of property and assets during the course of their relationship which are not considered “marital property” because the couple had not legally been allowed to get married earlier in their relationship. Clearly, this property represents what would be considered marital property for heterosexual couples who have entered into marriage as part of a long term monogamous relationship. Yet, due to technicalities of law, same sex couples who have acquired property and assets together during their longstanding monogamous relationship may have a difficult time dividing this property in the event that their relationship ultimately ends in divorce.

For this reason, same sex couples should carefully consider the effect marriage will have on the property they have acquired during their relationship before they marry, and how that property will be divided in the event of a divorce. It becomes extremely important for these longstanding couples to strongly consider entering into a prenuptial agreement before they get married so that these issues can be considered calmly, intelligently, and thoughtfully while they are still in love. Without a prenuptial agreement, couples may be forced to consider these issues for the first time while engaged in a highly charged divorce action, where all civility is often (and ill-advisedly) thrown out the window.

In many circumstances involving same sex marriages, prenuptial agreements are crucial, and should be drawn up and signed well before the wedding is to take place. Naturally, a skilled and experienced family law attorney is the best qualified person to give advice regarding prenuptial agreements, and to draft these agreements for you and your partner. It is important to give your lawyer several months prior to the date of your marriage to negotiate, draft, and if necessary, revise your prenuptial agreement. This will ensure that the final agreement produces the fairest possible result for each partner.

posted by Andrew @ 1:40 PM 0 comments

Will Smith Divorce Rumors Circulate

The gossip tabloid In Touch Weekly recently reported that the marriage of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith is on the rocks. In fact, they have gone as far as to claim that the high profile Hollywood couple has filed for divorce. The rumors seem to stem from other rumors that Will Smith caught his wife in bed with Mark Anthony, the costar of her latest movie.

However, the couple and their children have been broadcasting a different version of the state of their marriage. Will’s son Trey tweeted, “Will and Jada getting a DIVORCE. NOT TRUE AT ALL!”

Will and Jada also released a statement yesterday saying, “Although we are reluctant to respond to these types of press reports, the rumors circulating about our relationship are completely false. We are still together, and our marriage is intact.”

While this statement doesn’t seem to be a resounding endorsement of the depth of their love for one another, it certainly does not indicate that a divorce is looming on the horizon. Only time will tell whether the couple is doing damage control while they sort out serious problems or whether these rumors are actually much ado about nothing.

posted by Andrew @ 4:39 PM 1 comments