When money is no object, the good times roll. Some California residents will be familiar with what happens when the tide turns, especially when divorce is on the horizon. Adjusting to a reduction in income can be difficult, especially if one is used to living in luxury. A recent celebrity divorce case raises the question of how far spousal support should go.
After 12 years of marriage singer, Mary J. Blige has filed for divorce from her husband, Martin ‘Kenduu’ Isaacs. Blige has also fired Isaacs as her manager, a job for which he reportedly received $554,465 in earnings in the past year. The couple signed a pre-nup, the details of which are unknown; however, Isaacs is now demanding almost $130,000 per month in spousal support, saying that the pre-nup is invalid. The couple have no children, but Isaacs alleges that Blige’s income over the last two years has been somewhere between $1.5 million and $5.1 million, and as such, he feels that Blige should continue to finance the lifestyle to which he has become accustomed.
Isaacs now claims to be experiencing financial problems, with the overdraft on his bank account currently running at over $13,000. In addition to everyday expenses such as grocery bills, the spousal support includes amounts for personal expenditure such as a chef and a personal trainer. He is also claiming unspecified amounts for child support payments for his children from a previous relationship as well as for rent on multiple properties. Since their separation, Blige has made two payments to Isaacs totaling $85,000; while the nature of the payments is unclear, Isaacs is using them as further evidence to indicate the invalidity of the pre-nup.
The sums involved in this case may be greater than those negotiated by many California residents, but the principle remains the same. While spousal support may be appropriate and, indeed, justified, the level may require careful consideration by both parties. There are a number of factors that are likely to affect the amount awarded, so it is important to seek the appropriate guidance according to one’s own circumstances.
Source: inquisitr.com, “Mary J. Blige Divorce Gets Ugly As Husband Kendu Isaacs Asks For Astronomical Spousal Support“, Shaunee Flowers, Oct. 17, 2016
