Celebrity Separations and Divorces: Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher

[Photo from Wikipedia]

I am sorry I have been away from the blogging world for the past week!  As an Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyer, (who also handles personal injury, criminal defense, and countless other legal matters), I have really been busy! I feel like I have been jumpin' and steppin' on alligators all week -- with both feet!  But it's nice to be back to blogging!

Have you heard the news reports about an alleged potential split between Hollywood actors Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore?  You will have to read elsewhere about all the sordid allegations -- including allegations of adultery.  In fairness, probably no one in the entertainment media really knows the truth about such allegations.  But smut --whether true or not -- sells rags, doesn't it?  However, in any event, such smutty allegations are not the point of this post, anyway. 

The point of this post is that, as the Moore-Kutcher marriage has clearly demonstrated, (at least, until now), marriages between older women and younger men can, and do, work.  As you may know, Ms. Moore is 48; Ashton Kutcher, the new star of Two and a Half Men, is only 33.  They have been married for 6 years.  So, no matter what happens between them now, don't you agree that this case shows that such marriages can work?  Put another way, does age really matter?  Do May-December romances really work?  What is your opinion?

Okay, now I must put back on my divorce attorney hat and commence steppin' on alligator heads again!

Reasons Why People Divorce: The Mysterious Case of the "Lovey-Dovey Divorce"

[Photo from freephotos.co.uk]

As Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyers, we never know what to expect when divorcing couples walk in the door to sign their uncontested divorce documents.  What will be their reactions, or emotional state?  In some divorces, the parties are understandably upset.  In other divorce cases, one party, or the other, may be angry.  And sometimes, they simply remain silent, or stoic.  But then, there is that one case, as a divorce attorney, which I will never forget.  It was the case which I call the "lovey-dovey divorce."

It was a bright, sunny day--just a couple of years ago.  The two parties had arrived at our law offices separately.  Looking out my office window, I could see them, husband and wife, as they paused and warmly embraced, before they entered.  Then, they walked into our offices, hand-in-hand, together.

While going over the divorce documents, it appeared that they could not keep their hands off each other.  He laughed at her witty quips.  They also freely smiled at each other.  In short, they looked more like excited, new lovers than a couple going through a divorce!  But in spite of all their smiles and touches, and their furtive, flirting glances, they each dutifully signed the divorce documents and left!

After they left, I couldn't resist my own furtive glance out the window.  There, I witnessed another warm embrace.  Finally, they each got into their own automobiles and drove away, separately.

Why were they so happy and so warm to each other?  Why were they getting a divorce?  What do you think?  We will never know!  But this was the case of the "lovey-dovey divorce!"  

Reverend Pat Robertson, Divorce, and Alzheimer's Disease: Is It Okay to Divorce a Sick or Dying Spouse?

[Photo from wikipedia]

Whether you love him or hate him, you must admit that the Reverend Pat Robertson has an uncanny affinity for making controversial statements which attract attention.  What do you think of Robertson's latest statement about divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer's disease? 

According to various reports, this past week, Rev. Robertson essentially told viewers of "The 700 Club" television program that it is okay to divorce your spouse, if he or she has Alzheimer's disease, because the condition is a "kind of death."  In fairness, he added that you should first make sure that your sick spouse is taken care of.  But what do you think of his controversial views about divorce from a dying spouse? 

Celebrity Separations and Divorces: Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston

[Photo from wikipedia]

Why do some celebrities have to open their mouths and bash their exes?  If you believe actor Brad Pitt, he opened his mouth this week, during an interview for this Sunday's Parade magazine, but he didn't intend to bash his ex, actress Jennifer Aniston. 

Of course, Pitt and Aniston were married from 2000 until 2005, when he met his new (and current) girl friend, Angelina Jolie, on the movie set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.  (It is also important to point out that Pitt and Jolie have denied they committed adultery before Pitt and Aniston were divorced).

But you read the interview and decide for yourself about Pitt's comments and whether or not they were directed, in any way, at Aniston.  According to various news reports, during the interview, among other things, Pitt described his life, while he was married to Aniston, as dull and "pathetic."

Since the interview, Pitt has tried to make amends, by complimenting Aniston, and by emphasizing that he was only talking about his own life and career, and not about his marriage or about Aniston.

Who knows?  Maybe, Pitt's explanation is correct.  Maybe he wasn't bashing Aniston.  But maybe this incident also illustrates that celebrities, just like regular folks, should simply not open their mouths and say anything which could ever be construed as negative about their exes!  And this rule is especially true if the party was once married to, and then divorced, "America's Sweetheart!"

Don't you agree?

Celebrity Separations and Divorces: Eva Longoria and Tony Parker

[Photo from wikipedia]

Sometimes, celebrities must try to answer some really dumb questions from the media!  If you were asked, like actress Eva Longoria, following a recent divorce, whether you would ever marry again, what would be your answer?

According to various news reports, Ms. Longoria gave a pretty good response to this question, in my opinion.  She basically said that she has not given it a lot of thought and that no woman, after recently getting a divorce, could really give a truthful answer!

Don't you agree that this is a fair response?  After all, Ms. Longoria's divorce from basketball star Tony Parker was just finalized earlier this year.  And while we all can probably safely predict that the Desperate Housewives star will not be desperate to re-marry any time soon, it is equally true that no one, including her, (or you, if you have recently gone through a dvorce), knows what the future may hold.

So, that is why, in my opinion, as an Augusta, Georgia divorce attorney, Ms. Longoria gave a truthful response to a dumb question!

Divorce, Child Support, and Advice to Deadbeat Dads

[Photo from childfun.net]

As you can imagine, because we are Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyers who offer free initial consultations, every day, we receive numerous telephone and email inquiries about Georgia divorces.  In response, we earnestly attempt to give good, sound information about Georgia divorce law.  Also, we always encourage each caller or writer to discuss their divorce questions with their own divorce attorney.  Finally, we also always try to be polite to callers and writers to the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC!

Sometimes, we get questions about divorce which stump us.  In other words, divorce attorneys are not legal encyclopedias.  We simply do not always have the answers without doing legal research.

And sometimes, we get questions for which there are no good responses, or, at least, there isn't a response which the caller or writer wants to hear.  One example of this type of question involves inquiries from so-called "deadbeat dads."  I really don't like to use this term, because, as I have explained before, it unfairly casts a shadow over all dads and ignores the fact that most fathers DO, in fact, support their children.

But a fairly common question we receive from some so-called "deadbeat dads" is:  "How can I surrender my parental rights?"  The answer we generally give is: "You can't!"  In other words, generally, no Georgia judge would (nor should) allow a father to avoid paying child support and simply walk away from their parental responsibilities.  If your spouse won't allow you child visitation, then, generally, your best remedy is to take 'em back to court, in a contempt action, rather than to try to avoid paying child support!

Sometimes, I also want to add that I believe the caller or writer should stop procreating and should consider getting a vasectomy!  But I generally keep such advice to myself!  Like I said, we always try to be polite to callers and writers to the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC!

Divorce, Anger Management, and Driving Cars Through Courthouses

Have you ever gotten so angry that you have completely lost control of your temper and every shred of your common sense?  Divorce can apparently do that to some people. 

According to news reports, a South Georgia bailiff, reportedly angry about a recent divorce, got so angry that he attempted to drive his Mercedes through a courthouse entrance.  Fortunately, a brick planter stopped his futile effort.  But unfortunately, the poor man now reportedly faces criminal charges, in addition to whatever problems got him so upset about his divorce.

As Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyers, we see it all.  We often see folks who maintain an incredible calmness, even while their angry, worthless spouses harass and bedevil them.  But we also sometimes see people get as mad as wet hens when they are wronged by their spouses, or exes.  And we also sometimes see people held in contempt of court because of their anger management issues.  The point is that you should get control, and get help, but not get even.

Another related point is that, if you are going through a divorce, you should never let your temper get you into trouble.  Then, you still have your original problems, plus, like this poor South Georgia man, you also have your new problems, too!  And that may include having to get your Mercedes fixed, too!