Demi Moore, 49, and Ashton Kutcher, 34, garnered an enormous amount of media attention when they married in September of 2005. The spotlight continued to follow the couple when rumors of Kutcher’s infidelity began to spread. Allegedly, Kutcher cheated on his wife with two party girls Brittney Jones and Sarah Leal. Regarding her husband’s infidelity, Moore released the following statement “as a woman, and a mother and a wife, there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life.”
Moore and Kutcher are taking an interesting approach to the divorce process. Although the couple split in 2011, neither party has filed a divorce petition. Rumors have now spread that Moore and Kutcher were never legally married. However, the more likely explanation is that the couple is attempting to reach a settlement before a petition for dissolution of marriage is filed. It seems the former couple cannot agree on how to split up the enormous $290 million fortune they amassed. Unlike in the Brand-Perry divorce, Kutcher and Moore have earned a relatively similar amount. According to reports, Moore is worth $150 million while Kutcher is worth $140 million.
Under the California Family Code, the court must divide the community estate equally. The community estate consists of all earnings and accumulations acquired by either party during marriage. It does not however include property held before marriage or acquired during marriage as a gift or inheritance. Thus, the court will only be permitted to divide the money earned by both parties during the marriage.
Additionally, the existence and validity of a premarital agreement may affect the outcome of the property settlement. According to reports, the parties did sign a premarital agreement. However, it appears that Moore is still arguing for her share of Kutcher’s wealth due to his public infidelity. If the premarital agreement was well-crafted, Moore may have an extremely difficult time getting it overturned in court. If Moore and Kutcher cannot come to an agreement regarding the division of the marital estate, they will have to put their finances in the hands of a judge.
Although Kutcher’s public infidelity humiliated Moore, California is a no-fault state. A California Family Court judge will not take into consideration Kutcher’s romp with two party girls when he or she divides the Moore-Kutcher community estate.
Please contact us if you are considering a divorce from your spouse, a legal separation, or have questions regarding child custody and visitation. Nancy J. Bickford is the only lawyer in San Diego County representing clients in divorces, who is a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) and who is actively licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Don’t settle for less when determining your rights. Call 858-793-8884 in Del Mar, Carmel Valley, North County or San Diego.