Nicole Kidman’s Divorce: What High-Profile Splits Teach the Rest of Us

Nicole Kidman’s Divorce: What High-Profile Splits Teach the Rest of Us

Nicole Kidman has filed for divorce from country star Keith Urban after 19 years of marriage, and the headlines are everywhere. It’s not just Hollywood gossip, it’s a case study in what happens when love, lifestyle, and law collide at the highest level.

A Marriage in the Spotlight

The couple married in 2006 and built nearly two decades together, raising two daughters along the way. On the surface, it looked like one of the rare celebrity marriages that beat the odds. But in recent months, cracks appeared. Reports suggest Keith moved out earlier this summer, and while Nicole fought to save the marriage, she officially filed for divorce at the end of September.

Nineteen years is a long marriage in any world, but especially in Hollywood. And while we can all sigh over another “happily ever after” that didn’t last, what’s more interesting to me as a divorce lawyer is what’s at stake when marriages of this scale unravel.

Continue reading “Nicole Kidman’s Divorce: What High-Profile Splits Teach the Rest of Us”

When Divorce and Mental Health Collide: Why Treatment Plans Matter in Family Law

Celebrity divorces tend to dominate headlines for all the wrong reasons: scandals, breakdowns, and drama. But behind every headline is a lesson for family lawyers, judges, and parents navigating the hardest chapter of their lives. The unfolding saga of Kelley and Scott Wolf is one of those moments.

In August 2025, Kelley Wolf was arrested in Utah and charged with electronic harassment and doxxing, after allegedly posting her estranged husband Scott Wolf’s personal information online, as reported by many media outlets. The court’s response was swift: Kelley was ordered to stay at least 300 feet away from Scott and their three children, banned from contacting them, and required to undergo court-ordered psychological and medical treatment.

This wasn’t just about punishment. It was about protection, stability, and creating a path forward in a case where the children’s well-being was on the line.

Let’s discuss how these issues are treated by the courts:

Continue reading “When Divorce and Mental Health Collide: Why Treatment Plans Matter in Family Law”

The Myth of 50/50: How Divorce Courts Shortchange Stay-at-Home Parents

The Myth of 50/50: How Divorce Courts Shortchange Stay-at-Home Parents

On paper, “splitting everything 50/50” sounds fair. Equal shares, equal rights, clean break. But here’s the ugly truth: a 50/50 split often leaves stay-at-home parents at a massive disadvantage.

Why? Because money in divorce isn’t just about the snapshot of today’s bank balance. It’s about how those numbers got there, and where they’re headed.

Within the last few years, a Spanish court awarded €204,624.86 (approx. $215,664 USD) plus a €500/month annuity to a homemaker for 25 years of exclusive domestic labor, breaking new legal ground in recognizing that such unpaid labor entitles financial compensation, even under a separation-of-property marriage regime.

This discussion should be required reading for any spouse or parent thinking of “staying home” or stepping back from their career during a marriage. Here in New York, there is very little return-on-investment for that sacrifice, and a court isn’t going to compensate for the lost time and future career setbacks.

Continue reading “The Myth of 50/50: How Divorce Courts Shortchange Stay-at-Home Parents”

Why Every Married Woman Needs a Bank Account in Her Own Name

Why Every Married Woman Needs a Bank Account in Her Own Name

Let’s get this out of the way up front: every married woman should have at least $5,000 in a bank account that’s hers alone: full stop.

Now before anyone starts clutching pearls or calling this marital betrayal, let’s be clear:
I’m not saying the account has to be a secret (though for some women, it probably should be). And I’m certainly not suggesting you stop caring about your partner’s feelings, as healthy relationships are built on openness and mutual respect.

But having your own money is part of being an adult. It’s not about prepping for divorce (though we’ll get to that). It’s about independence, protection, and peace of mind.

Because here’s the reality: life happens. And life is messy.

Continue reading “Why Every Married Woman Needs a Bank Account in Her Own Name”