The lessons to be learned from celebrity divorces

01/25/2012

A UK divorce lawyer has given her tips on what divorcing couples anywhere in the world can learn from some recent high-profile divorces.

Writing for Wales Online, Katie McColgan, partner and head of family law at Berry Smith, picked out the case of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony as having a lesson about child custody. Lopez and Anthony announced their split in July last year. Although it was initially agreed that Lopez would have primary care, media reports suggest that Anthony is now seeking joint care.

McColgan said that issues relating to child residence and contact were common for divorcing couples and that the introduction of a new partner often complicates the issue further. She advised couples to remain as civil as possible for the sake of the children, saying amicable splits were far easier for children to cope with.

She also highlighted Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher’s break-up, a split that surprised many. According to reports the couple had a prenuptial agreement in place to protect actress Moore’s fortune. However, it appears that, in fact, Kutcher earned more than her whilst they were married. There are rumors that Moore may mount a legal fight to get her share of Kutcher’s cash.

McColgan said prenuptial agreements could protect assets. She added, “For couples who are already married, particularly those with children, drawing up a post-nuptial agreement, which is agreed upon by both as being a fair statement of their wishes, can also potentially prevent harmful stress in the event that the relationship turns sour.”