This is the second post in a series of posts about divorce and celebrity magazines designed to help you understand all that divorce jargon the magazines throw around.
Co-Parenting – People magazine reported that the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan, and his wife, Illusion, will divorce after sixteen years of marriage. The official announcement stated that the two are committed to co-parenting their children, which means they will share parenting responsibilities and custody without being married or in a committed relationship.
Divorce Decree – The LA Daily News talked about how Frank McCourt would most likely file for bankruptcy once the “divorce decree comes down.” A divorce decree establishes the end of the marriage and the fact the parties as single individuals. A divorce decree also outlines how to divide marital property.
Legal Separation – OK! Magazine explained that Heidi Montag filed for legal separation from her husband, Spencer Pratt, on June 8. Legal separation does not mean divorce. It does mean that all property acquired by either Heidi or Spencer on or after the date of legal separation will not be considered community property.
Pre-Nup – The LA Times mentioned that Larry King and his wife, Shawn Southwick, did not have a pre-nup (short for prenuptial agreement). This is significant considering the Kings recently filed for divorce (although they remain together) and Southwick just might receive a hefty portion of King’s assets. A pre-nup is a document signed prior to marriage that outlines how to distribute property if a divorce occurs. A pre-nup can include other items such as preferences for child rearing and lifestyle choices.
Shared Custody – Parade Magazine reported that Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn will divorce and share custody of their 16-year-old son. Shared custody means that both parents have legal decision-making rights. The child of parents with shared custody often spends time in both homes as established in a custody agreement.
Read part one of this series: A Celebrity Divorce Dictionary – What the Celebrity Magazines Really Mean?