Court battles are stressful, even for ex-spouses with the financial resources to fight them. It’s not just the prospect of facing an inflamed spouse that drives wealthy Virginia couples to settle their differences during divorce. Many Newport News couples, affluent and otherwise, simple want to move forward in peace — cooperation is how that gets done.
Waging war over alimony, child custody and property division adds to the difficulties of working through already-complicated high-asset divorces. Disagreements are likely when you and an ex are figuring out how to equitably distribute a considerable number of marital assets. Property will be divided one way or another, by compromise or court order.
Two months ago, when the public learned well-known lobbyists Tony and Heather Podesta were divorcing, the spouses were throwing singeing claims and legal counterpunches. Tony was the first to file, stating he was the springboard for his wife’s successful career. Meantime, Politico reported Heather zeroed in on the couple’s dispute over an extensive collection of art and real estate.
Tony accused his wife of purposely trying to embarrass him after the spouses separated more than a year ago. The pair married in 2003 and rose to the top of Washington D.C. social circles. Heather claimed in her divorce filing that the success of the “Podesta brand” was a mutual effort.
The estranged spouses own four homes, including two residences in other countries and a District property in Kalorama, which Heather wants to keep. The art collection, a major bone of contention in April, consists of over 1,300 pieces. The divorce issues that not long ago drew headlines apparently have been resolved.
The Podestas recently announced a settlement, without disclosing any of the details. The distribution of marital assets is a sensitive subject that most former spouses would like to keep private. A settlement can include a confidentiality agreement that forbids parties from talking about the agreement’s terms.
Source: The Washington Post, “Heather and Tony Podesta reach divorce settlement” Emily Heil, Jun. 09, 2014
