Claiming irreconcilable differences, Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in September of 2016. Reports peg Jolie’s net worth at about $140 million and Pitt’s at $240 million. Jolie filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, in Los Angeles, California. Joslin Davis, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers remarked about this power couple’s divorce, “I’m sure that before [Jolie] filed that petition, she and her lawyers very carefully considered the jurisdiction. Which jurisdiction would be more sympathetic to her goals?” In this case, she is asking for physical custody of their children.
Divorces among celebrities make for exciting reading by the public. Besides the high-net-worth of these couples and their celebrity, there are many lessons to learn from the divorces of celebs.
Plan Before You File
Most of us regular couples don’t have such a high net worth or more than one home, but we can still learn from the Jolie/Pitt divorce. The lesson here is to plan before you file.
Nothing drives the point home on planning before you file than the breakup of the marriage of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. With the help of her Ohio lawyer dad, Holmes is said to have spent six months planning her divorce from Cruise. Cruise showed complete surprise when he was served. Yet, Holmes was able to choose where the divorce took place (they had homes in both California and New York State). Friends of hers claim that by the time she filed she had determined her personal goals and she had a public relations plan in place that cast her in a more favorable light than Cruise around whom negativity was more prevalent. Planning pays off.
Timing Matters
The marriage of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner seemed like it would last forever. In this case, forever was 10 years and 1 day. Yes, one day after their 10th anniversary the couple announced they were divorcing. The timing of the divorce may have gone unnoticed by the press, but divorce lawyers knew the timing was on purpose as marriages that last 10 years or more often means higher amounts of spousal support and for a greater amount of time than in marriages that end before the 10-year mark.
Keep It In Good Taste
Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow are both members of the “A” list, but unlike other couples, their marriage ended in a classy manner. Neither side is seeking spousal support, and they were able to finalize a written agreement about their property settlement. They filed for divorce in 2014 and took two years before it became final in 2016. Neither had a harsh word about the other and they are seen in public together with their children frequently.
Divorce is often an uncomfortable and confusing event to face. Before you file, seek the advice of a qualified divorce lawyer who can answer your questions and address your concerns.