It is hard to be a California resident and not know about Kim Kardashian’s ongoing divorce from Kris Humphries. Recently, a judge set a trial date for the separating couple, which is to begin in the spring. While Humphries is still pushing for an annulment, claiming the entire marriage was a fraud for the benefit Kim’s television show, Ms. Kardashian adamantly opposes this claim. If the couple ultimately requires a traditional divorce, divorce mediation could be a potential alternative to the courtroom.
Divorce mediation is a form of dispute resolution that is less adversarial than the traditional courtroom. During the mediation, a third party professional assists the couple in conversing about the separation details. Often, such forms of dispute resolution encourage cordial conversation and agreement on the complicated questions which accompany divorce.
Kardashian and Humphries each bring their own substantial assets to the table. This factor could make the divorce process extremely complicated. The state of California is a community property state. This means that a judge will split assets acquired during marriage evenly among the two. Further, when a judge is involved, the order to split assets in a certain matter becomes the law for the separating couple. However, if the two work out their own arrangement, they may be happier with the result in the end.
The process of divorce can be a difficult one. Due to ongoing news coverage of this high profile divorce, tensions might be high between the Kardashian and Humphries. If this is the case, divorce mediation could be too troublesome an option. Yet, divorce mediation can assist in easing the process of divorce if the separating couple is willing to work out details with each other. Agreeing with one’s former spouse on all the complicated questions before court intervention can save time, money and emotional strife.
Source: Sacramento Bee, “Jude sets May trial date for Kardashian Divorce,” Anthony McCartney, Feb. 15, 2013.
