Divorce Attorney New Jersey: Weinberger Law Group

No Fault Divorce – A Positive Spin on Irreconcilable Differences? [Read More] [Full text]

No fault divorce, as it is increasingly being called, occurs when a couple chooses to end their marriage for no apparent reason. It is akin to irreconcilable differences in lawyer terminology and does not require the same reasoning as normal divorce does. Fault divorce entails that at least one of the parties must have a legitimate reason for filing the suit. These can range from adultery to cruelty and desertion, which not every one may experience. Is fault divorce a thing of the past, with a possible link to religious doctrine? Will divorce rates rise now? It seems irrelevant regardless, since the intention is to reduce conflict for families entering a divorce and make proceedings much more docile. It may also have the trickledown effect of reducing the domestic violence rate, since partners have an easier way out of unhappy marriages, where fear might prevent them from choosing the more conventional route. Is the focus on divorce rates a conservative measure no longer suitable? On the other hand, divorce have had known negative effects on children, which are, however, arguably only increased by a messy separation. This more positive language may make divorces more common, as it does not play the blame game and might make divorce seem less hostile. In the end, can it only be accused of utilizing approachable language or of something more substantial? And if there is more to it than user-friendly terms, is this even wrong?

Mena Suvari Divorce [Read More] [Full text]

The high school cheerleader blonde bombshell Kevin Spacey's character fell for in American Beauty is now all grown up and facing her own set of adult problems: Mena Suvari is seeking a divorce from her husband Simone Sestito. The marriage between Suvari and Sestito didn't last that long; it's only been eighteen months since they originally tied the knot. When filing for divorce, she gave the Hollywood standard “irreconcilable differences” as the reason, then told the court that her soon-to-be ex should not receive any spousal support from her. Despite only being 32 years old, this is already Suvari's second divorce. Her first marriage was to cinematographer Robert Brinkmann in 2000; that marriage lasted a surprising five years, even though Suvari was in her early twenties and Brinkmann in his late thirties. Suvari now joins a long line of Hollywood celebrities who have split up after being together two years or less. Katy Perry and Russell Brand recently split up after less than two years of marriage, with Brand moving out of their $6.5 million home. Kim Kardashian famously dumped basketball star Kris Humphries after only a few months. Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds also recently divorced after less than two years of marriage. Drew Barrymore has had two short marriages: Her first marriage lasted for only nineteen days, while her second marriage made it just past the one year mark. It's not just recent stars who marry and divorce at a rapid rate, either – Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan are just one example of stars from the previous generation with short-lived marriages. Therefore, Suvari is in good company in Hollywood. Hopefully the third time will be the charm for her.

Jack White and Karen Elson Announce Their Official Divorce [Read More] [Full text]

Jack White and Karen Elson of The White Stripes first announced the news of their impending divorce on June 10, 2011. The two met on the set of the music video for "Blue Orchid." They officially married each other in Brazil back in 2005, where Jack White's ex-wife was the maid of honor at the wedding. To "celebrate" their divorce, Mr. White and Ms. Elson sent out party invitations to close friends and family members. The couple held the party in their hometown of Nashville, complete with alcoholic beverages, music, dancing, and memorable photos. Explaining the reasoning behind the event, Jack White and Karen Elson stated that the purpose of the divorce party was to "re-affirm our friendship and celebrate the past and future." Early in 2011, The White Stripes told fans that the band would cease to produce or perform music together. After 13 years of creating music, the band decided to split up to "to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way." The White Stripes won three Grammy Awards for their last few albums, which are still wildly popular with buyers. Rolling Stone recently named Jack White as one of the "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." Since the divorce, Karen Elson has launched her own line of handbags, jewelry, and shoes for the company Nine West. Ms. Elson is also an accomplished model, singer-songwriter, and musician. Mr. White and Ms. Elson continue to work on co-parenting their minor children, Scarlett and Henry Lee.

Divorce of Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley was somewhat Unexpected [Read More] [Full text]

The love story of Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley seemed to be fireproof. Lavigne knew Whibley since she was 17, started dating him when she was 19, and married him when she was 21. The couple ostensibly had enough joint history to make the relationship work. At 24, she filed for divorce. What went wrong? Granted, the media did see the split coming. Attending parties separately and becoming overly friendly with members of the opposite sex – while still legally married – did not bode well for the relationship. Filing for divorce seemed to be the natural next step. Both musicians stay mum about the actual reason for the split; both are cordial in their tweets, posts and public comments. Gossip rags have been disappointed that the divorce was not adjudicated in the court of public opinion – with lots of dirty laundry to boot. Although details are few and far between, it is known that the divorce will not have a major financial impact on Lavigne and Whibley -- thanks to a prenuptial agreement that spelled out spousal support and other fiscal details. Divorce papers name the official date of separation as Sept. 4, 2009. So what’s next for the artists? Whibley has already been romantically linked with Hannah Merjos, a rather gorgeous model. Lavigne is not wasting much time either; she and Brody Jenner are said to have been an item since February – complete with matching his and hers tattoos. It is noteworthy that all this hooking up took place well in advance of the magistrate’s signing off on the divorce papers.

Frampton and Elfers [Read More] [Full text]

It turns out that the third time isn't the charm after all – at least, it's not for rock legend Peter Frampton. The man who made a name for himself with love songs like “Show Me the Way” and “Baby, I Love Your Way” filed for his third divorce one June 22, 2011. Frampton and Elfers have been married since 1996. The couple have two children together: Tiffany Wiest is an older teen from Elfers' previous marriage; Mia Frampton is currently 15. Mia Frampton is a budding actress who is currently starring in the role Becca Keeler in ABC's family drama, Make It or Break It. Frampton is seeking visitation rights for Mia, but wishes Elfers to continue to have primary physical custody. Not many details are known about Frampton and Elfers' split. The 61 year-old rocker cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for divorce. Perhaps the divorce shouldn't come as a shock to either of them. In his glory days, Frampton was known as something of a pretty boy and playboy – famous for posing shirtless on the cover of Rolling Stone in the late 1970s. By the time he met Tina Elfers in 1992, he'd already had one failed marriage; it wasn't long after he met her that his second marriage broke apart. In 2000, Peter Frampton told People that his top priority had become his family. Today, with all of his children from his marriages into their teens and twenties, Frampton is embarking upon a 35th anniversary tour of his famous “Frampton Comes Alive!” album. Now that he's on tour and single again, maybe we should look forward to another shirtless Rolling Stone cover aimed at aging Boomer divorcees.

The Public Divorce of Frank and Jamie McCourt [Read More] [Full text]

Divorce has not been kind to the McCourts. In 2008, Frank and Jamie McCourt were considered an influential couple of the Los Angeles business community. The Los Angeles Business Journal went so far as to proclaim them the “Power Couple of the Year.” Fast forward to 2009; the power alliance is broken and assets hotly debated in the court of public opinion as well as divorce court. The biggest asset -- ownership of the L.A. Dodgers -- propelled the McCourts into the households of countless sports fans. They sided alternatively with the wife or husband, depending on the latest revelations or accusations that the divorce proceedings divulged. Legal wrangling during the dissolution proceedings included a court-invalidated post-nuptial agreement that was supposed to prove Frank’s sole ownership status of the team. Jamie claimed the team as a community property asset, which would entitle her to half of the team’s worth. A tentative divorce settlement hinged on a 17-year TV contract between the embattled team and Fox; it fell apart after Major League Baseball nixed the deal. Frank McCourt is quick to blame his estranged wife’s lavish lifestyle for his money troubles, the Dodger’s money problems and also the divorce itself. As it stands, Frank McCourt is not making many friends in and around the City of Angels. His publicized divorce drama makes him an outsider within the upper echelons of the business community, which prides itself on a low personal profile. Press is good -- as long as it relates to philanthropic efforts. Dirty laundry aired during divorce proceedings … not so much. He is also the black sheep of MLB; his ownership rights greatly curtailed, it is now Tom Schieffer who oversees the financial operations of the Dodgers. Adding insult to injury, the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of the team has put McCourt at odds with the fans. Noticeably quiet is Jamie McCourt. Is she biding her time or will she hit Frank in divorce court with yet another motion that might just place his back firmly against the wall?

Melissa Gilbert: Divorce [Read More] [Full text]

Melissa Gilbert has filed for divorce. Playing Laura Ingalls on TV's “Little House on the Prairie,” Melissa Gilbert quickly became the darling of an entire generation. Growing up on television, she went on to also star in “Without Her Consent,” “With Hostile Intent” and “Switched at Birth.” Gilbert wed Bruce Boxleitner in 1995. Fourteen years her senior, the marriage was the culmination of a somewhat stormy courtship. It is now irretrievably broken after 16 years. Details are scarce and the couple remains mum about the events leading up to the breakup. Fans know that this is not Gilbert’s first trip to divorce court. Her marriage to Bo Brinkman ended in divorce in 1992, after only about four years together. Prior to this marriage, the actress found her name romantically linked to numerous Hollywood greats, including Tom Cruise and Scott Baio. Boxleitner is no stranger to TV fans himself. With parts in “Tron” and “Babylon 5,” he has a solid fan base and devoted following. Before his marriage to Gilbert, he went to the altar with Kathryn Holcomb. This marriage lasted from 1977 to 1987. Sources reveal that this divorce is not easy on Gilbert. A well-worded formal statement asks the public to respect the family’s privacy. It also underscores that this long-term relationship is not simple to unravel, in part because there are four children involved. Time will tell how Gilbert and Boxleitner will move on. Since the children are mostly grown, the impact on them can -- hopefully -- be minimized.

Shania Twain’s Divorce [Read More] [Full text]

It had all the makings of a hit country song: After fourteen years of marriage, a woman finds out that her husband has been having an affair. The affair's not just with anyone, however, it's with one of the wife's closest friends. The betrayed wife writes her friend and tells her, “Find love somewhere else from someone else” (Source: People.com http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20486696,00.html ). That's not just a chorus from a country song; that was Shania Twain's actual words in a letter she sent to assistant and good friend Maria-Anne Thiebaud, the woman who was having an affair with Shania's then-husband Robert Lange. In a perfect country song twist, Shania went to Marie-Anne's ex-husband Frederic for comfort. Shania and Frederic got married in January 2011 in Puerto Rico. Shania Twain Moves On It was a long road for the superstar before she really recovered from the shock of the betrayal. At one point she was so stressed out that she lost her voice for a time. Trying to be strong for her son, she managed to get through the last few years, but she doesn't let her son spend any time with his new step-mother. While she says she'll never be ok with what Lange and Thiebaud did, she still hopes that she and her ex-husband will be able to be friends one day, at least for the sake of their child. Stating that she truly believes everything happens for a reason, she shrugs off the idea that she should hold on any longer her regrets and angst. Today, she calls her divorce from Lange the wake-up call that she needed.

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