Celebrity Chef and Art Collector to Split

 Posted on July 17, 2013 in Divorce

According to MyFoxChicago, “celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and art collector Charles Saatchi say they intend to conclude a ‘swift and amicable’ divorce” by the end of July. Neither plans to receive any financial help from the other—meaning that an amiable divorce is all the more likely. According to MyFoxChicago, Lawson and Saatchi “separated after a newspaper published photos last month of Saatchi grasping his wife’s throat during an argument at a London restaurant.” Lawson hired “powerhouse divorce lawyer” Fiona Shackleton, who has previously represented bigwigs such as Paul McCartney and Prince Charles. Saatchi, on the other hand, will represent himself for their initial divorce decree, which is due to be announced at the end of July.   Unlike Lawson and Saatchi’s split, many celebrity divorces are mired in tabloid- loving money issues for extended periods of time. Others make headlines for the outrageous settlements reached. Katie Holmes is thought to have received nearly $20 million after her split from Tom Cruise, not including the amount of child support she sought, according to the Huffington Post. Michael Jordan, reports the Huffington Post, reportedly paid $168 million to his ex-wife Juanita “when the 17-year marriage ended in 2007.” While average Americans don’t deal with numbers quite like these, reaching a settlement during a divorce can be costly and overwhelming for both parties. According to Chicago Magazine, “for a contested divorce that ends up in court, the parties will spend, on average, $20,000 to $25,000.” Working with a qualified family lawyer, however, to reach an uncontested split could be worth it. “Mediation isn’t for everyone,” reports Chicago Magazine, “especially not for openly hostile couples,” but if you and your soon-to-be-ex think you could work with out, it could save you thousands down the road. If you or someone you know is considering divorce , especially if you want it to be amiable, contact a Kane County divorce attorney today. Image courtesy of imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net