Divorce is common these days – even celebrities can’t seem to escape unscathed. It’s tough to be in the spotlight, and stars often deal with the repercussions of a very public breakup (immediately and in painstaking detail, thanks to social media). And, like us, some of the famous figures we admire learn the hard way that a “conscious uncoupling” may be the best way to resolve an unhappy marriage. Here, we’ve listed a few of the messiest celebrity divorces in the last 20 years (and how to avoid some of the mistakes they made):
This infamous millennial marriage lasted only a whopping 72 days! Following a whirlwind courtship of six months, reality star and fashion mogul Kim Kardashian and NBA player Kris Humphries tied the knot with 4.4 million viewers watching. However, KH and KK (now KKW) called it quits less than three months after their televised wedding. In fact, the divorce proceedings that followed ended up lasting much longer than the marriage itself – over two years. Humphries campaigned hard for an annulment, accusing his ex-wife of fraud by claiming the marriage was a mere “publicity stunt.” Our advice? Save yourself the time, court fees and histrionics of a “he said, she said” legal battle by hiring an attorney you trust to negotiate on your behalf.
After 10 years of what *seemed* to be a happy marriage, this once-beloved reality show couple dramatically called it quits in an episode of TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8. The couple’s divorce in 2009 quickly became tabloid fodder and covered all the bases by way of allegations – infidelity, child abuse, drug problems. As of December 2018, Jon and Kate were still in a custody dispute over one of their sons. We recommend sparing your children this long and emotional process by making custody arrangements ahead of time. The most important part of a divorce involving minor children is always ensuring that their best interests are at heart.
After meeting on the set of The Marrying Man, these two A-list actors were blissfully wed in 1993. However, their divorce in 2001 ended on bad terms – with no prenuptial in place. The entire divorce process took over a year with specific terms and conditions enlisted in a joint custody agreement. In Alex Baldwin’s book, A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey Through Fatherhood and Divorce,he writes candidly about his divorce experience, including his troubles with lawyers and judges. During a divorce, it’s important to have trusted counsel on your side. Scheduling a free 30-minute consultation with an attorney can better help you find proper representation at no extra cost to you. Additionally, if you have assets that need protection, consult with an attorney prior to getting married about the possibility of a prenuptial agreement.
The CEO of the online-shopping mecca Amazon released a joint statement this year with his soon-to-be ex-wife, stating that they were both eager to continue as “co-parents and friends.” The term “conscious uncoupling” – coined in 2014 by family therapist Katherine Woodward – is becoming more common in public modern romances. The couple of 25 years split amicably (despite unfavorable press coverage), with MacKenzie Bezoz being awarded around 4% of Amazon (worth over $36 billion). Although theirs goes down as the most expensive divorce in history, the union was actually dissolved in less than three months. Take a lesson from this couple’s split and embrace the beauty of agreeing to disagree outside of court.
While your divorce might not be in the public eye, ending a marriage is never easy. The attorneys at Ball Morse Lowe are here to help you avoid common legal mistakes and keep you moving forward. To schedule a free consultation, give us a call at (405) 701-6179.