Celebrity Marriages and Divorces: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

[Photo of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes from wikipedia]

Say it ain't so!  Various news reports indicate that, earlier today, actress Katie Holmes filed for divorce from her actor husband, Tom Cruise. The celebrity couple has been married for about five years. They have one daughter, Suri. Ms. Holmes is reportedly seeking primary physical custody. 

This would be the third divorce for Cruise who reportedly turns fifty next week. 

Cruise also has two children from a previous marriage to actress Nicole Kidman. He was also previously married to and divorced from actress Mimi Rogers. 

As we have discussed before in this divorce blog, celebrities have problems just like everyone else. Here's hoping that both Cruise and Holmes are able to work through this tough situation, one way or the other, without the full media spotlight being focused on them.

Celebrity Marriages and Divorces: Nora Ephron

[Photo of Nora Ephron from  wikipedia]

Have you heard the sad news?  A very talented American screenwriter, producer, and director, Nora Ephron, died yesterday from pneumonia, which was reportedly a complication from leukemia. Ms. Ephron often wrote about the trials and relationships between men and women.  She also experienced both marriage and divorce in her own lifetime, including a previous divorce from journalist Carl Bernstein.

But that's enough about divorce. Today, I mainly just wanted to acknowledge her incredible contributions to our culture.  While she is responsible for writing the scripts for, or producing, many classic movies, one of my favorites is the 1993 film, Sleepless in Seattle.

What are some of your favorite Nora Ephron films?

Dating and Divorce: When Can You Date?

As Augusta, Georgia divorce attorneys, we often receive inquiries, both to our Augusta law firm and to this divorce blog, in which folks are asking us questions about when or whether they can begin dating, while their divorce case is pending.  We consistently, authoritatively, and unquestionably always tell them: NO, you cannot, should not, and must not date while your divorce is pending!  In other words, as Georgia divorce lawyers, we generally recommend that you should wait until the ink on your divorce decree is dry BEFORE you start dating, or even playing the field.

While every divorce case is different, and while you should also discuss this matter with your own divorce lawyer, as Georgia divorce lawyers, we would also point out that, in many divorce cases, there could be serious negative consequences if you begin dating, or start going to dating sites, while your divorce is still pending.  Technically, you are still married, (until the final divorce decree is signed), so, technically, "fooling around" would be adultery.  And as we have discussed before, please recall that proof of adultery, in the State of Georgia, carries with it a number of deleterious consequences, including potential impact on divorce issues involving alimony and property divisions, and, in some cases, even child custody.

Again, we recommend that you consult with your own divorce attorney about whether it is okay to date!

So, that is why, if you ever contact the Goolsby Law Firm, in Augusta, Georgia, and ask us questions concerning when it is okay to date, you can expect us to tell you that you should wait until after your divorce is final!

Celebrity Separations and Divorces: Chipper Jones

[Photo of Atlanta Braves' Chipper Jones from wikipedia]

According to various news reports, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones and his wife, Sharon, have reportedly separated. Jones is in the final year of a successful 19 year career with the Braves organization and should be headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Jones and his wife have three sons. Jones also reportedly has another son by a previous marriage.

As Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyers, we have discussed before in this divorce blog some of the problems confronted by many celebrities in their marriages.  Naturally, professional sports players, like Hollywood celebrities, face many challenges, including long periods of separation while on the road, in making marriages work.

Here's hoping that Jones and his wife are able to address their challenges--one way or the other--without the focus of the media spotlight.  Don't you agree that celebrities face unique challenges in their personal lives?

DIY Kits and Uncontested Divorces in Georgia

I just "googled" the terms "simple, uncontested divorces in Georgia."  Immediately, I was faced with a list of possible websites which included a number of "do-it-yourself" divorce kits.  Of course, since I am an Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyer, I do not recommend that anyone should try to "do-it-yourself," particularly if there are children of the marriage.  The issues, even in an uncontested divorce, are often too complicated.

As Augusta, GA divorce attorneys, we have received a number of telephone calls from people who have tried to handle their own divorces and run into a host of problems.  Naturally, as divorce lawyers, we believe that, instead of doing it yourself, you should find a divorce lawyer who will help you wade through all the legal issues in an uncontested divorce -- at an affordable cost which is almost as cheap as some of the DIY kits.