When a marriage breaks down it can often become difficult for divorcing spouses to come to terms in a settlement agreement. Couples who do not have kids obviously do not have to negotiate or litigate child support and custody issues. However, many East Bay Area couples may still have many issues to resolve before finalizing a divorce.
In California, stories about divorce in the media may often involve high profile divorce proceedings. High-asset divorces, or marriages involving celebrity couples, often make the news in California. In many cases, a celebrity divorce may also involve disputes of financial issues.
Many people may be aware that Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher separated in 2011. During the separation, the two stars reportedly attempted to negotiate a confidential agreement over the terms of their divorce. Kutcher reportedly filed divorce papers in Los Angeles in December 2012, and Moore says that she continued to attempt to reach a settlement agreement.
It appears that the early settlement negotiations have not produced a result as Demi Moore filed her divorce papers last week. Commentators say that Demi had a greater net worth than Kutcher when the two were married. But a spokesperson for Ms. Moore says that the actress took more of a backseat professionally during the marriage and allowed Mr. Kutcher’s career to take the forefront. Now Demi reportedly is seeking spousal support and other financial issues in the divorce proceedings.
Many couples in California attempt to avoid contested litigation over property division and other issues even before tying the knot. A prenuptial agreement entered into before a marriage can ease tensions during the emotional time surrounding a divorce should the marriage relationship break down. However, sources indicate that Kutcher and Moore did not have a prenup. And because the couple does not have any children, the main issue in the high-asset divorce appears to be over the financials.
Source: Examiner, “Demi Moore wants huge chunk of Ashton Kutcher’s $100M fortune,” Rachael Monaco, March 11. 2013