Divorces can get ugly. But they can take a turn for the worst when it comes to dividing assets and property. Manhattan litigator Jacqueline Newman, Esq. of Berkman, Bottger, Newman & Rodd, LLP, has put together a list of some of the craziest she’s seen couples fight over.
Crazy Divorce Fights
People fight about a number of things during divorce. Here are some unique ones:
- In a million dollar case, a settlement came down to a Cuisinart blender. Literally, the case would not be settled until the kitchen appliance was one.
- It’s not uncommon for divorces to come to cats and dogs, well at least fights about cats and dogs. Perhaps a little more uncommon are the negotiations regarding bunnies, turtles, and even fish.
- In one case, the negotiations reached stalemate when an ex refused to change a personal email account while the other spouse demanded it.
- Plastic bags are harder to come by in the state of California, as the result of a state-wide ban on distributing them at grocery stores, etc…while that may seem a petty annoyance, in one case it turned into enough to inspire a fight.
- Wedding photos.
No Fault Divorce
California is a no-fault divorce state, which means that either spouse is able to file for divorce citing no other reason than irreconcilable differences. Sometimes working to find and agreement, thus avoiding litigation is a possibility for spouses. Working through mediation or collaborative law is often the best approach, allowing each spouse to negotiate for what they want. Unfortunately, sometimes those approaches do not working for warring spouses.
Litigious Divorce
When a divorce is unable to be settled through mediation or collaborative law, it helps to work with a skilled divorce attorney who can help you work through hostile legal proceedings. Working with an attorney also will provide you will peace of mind, knowing you’re in the skilled hands of someone who understands family law and how to negotiate for their client.
Source: The Huffington Post, Crazy S$%$t People Fight Over, September 21, 2013