DIVORCE LAWYER TELLS ALL
INSIDE JUSTIN AND JESSICA’S MARRIAGE TROUBLES
Divorce and separation can be messy to navigate even in the best of times. But when millions of dollars, multiple properties, children and impending tabloid drama is involved, it can be a minefield.
When a celebrity couple splits up, their multimilliondollar fortunes make everything much more complicated. High-profile break-ups such as Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus, Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk, Nadia and Jimmy Bartel, Adele and Simon Konecki all happened in 2019, while enduring couple Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel appear to be on the rocks.
After scandalous paparazzi photographs emerged of former NSYNC singer Justin holding hands with his co-star Alisha Wainwright, speculation has been rife that the married couple are on the verge of separation. While they haven’t filed for divorce, with a combined net worth of $386 million, a split between JT and Jessica is bound to make it hugely complex, according to divorce lawyer and director at Michael Lynch Family Lawyers, Amy Honan. “To actually get a divorce is quite a straightforward process. It’s more the custody arrangements of children and the division of their property where family lawyers see more of the disputes, and the court has more complex frameworks to determine those
“THEY KNOW THE COST OF IT BEING SPLASHED OVER THE TABLOIDS”
issues,” Amy tells New Idea. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a prenuptial agreement. This keeps it out of the public eye. That’s the best way they can keep everything under wraps.
“There may be a clause around splitting 50/50 of anything accumulated during the marriage. They may work it out, quarantining what they had beforehand and then splitting everything else 50-50, or an extra million every time you have a child.”
The high-profile couple also share a 4-year-old son, Silas, which could mean their fortunes are split more evenly.
“It’s also common to add more cash amounts the longer the marriage goes on, like an escalating thing. Plus, spousal maintenance, or alimony, as they call it in America,” Amy continues. “The provision for alimony could be anything from one year, or up until a child goes to school.”
When JT and Jessica tied the knot in 2012, the ‘Sexyback’ singer had a significantly higher net worth than his wife, who boasts a net worth of around $26 million. The pair reportedly signed a ‘love contract’ which reportedly stated Jessica would be entitled to $730,000 if Justin was ‘unfaithful’. In the event of a marriage breakdown, Amy says it’s not unusual for the division of assets to be less than 50/50 – particularly with such a
large financial gap. However, a prenup would ensure Jessica gets a lot more than her original $26 million if the pair divorce.
“There’s no automatic assumption of a 50/50 split of anything, [but] when you’re bargaining terms, the other spouse will still have to sign it. It’s unlikely you’re going to get someone to sign a prenup where it says, ‘I’m going to keep [US]$250 million, and you just get your [US] $18 million and that’s it’,” Amy explains.
“If someone has a high net worth, they would know very well the cost of the proceedings splashed all over the tabloids.
“They might be a bit more generous because it will protect their reputation. They’ll give a bit more to get it signed at the time it is presented.”