David Arquette Files for Divorce after 12 Years of Marriage

 Posted on June 30, 2012 in Divorce

After 12 years of marriage and following a trial separation that began in 2010, actor David Arquette filed for divorce from actress Courteney Cox. Divorce papers were filed June 12 at the Los Angeles Superior Court citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the couple's split. Later the same day, the "Friends" actress responded with legal documents of her own.

Neither Cox nor Arquette retained a lawyer for the filing, and there has been no mention of a pre-nuptial agreement. Both parties have asked for joint physical and legal custody of the couple's 8 year old daughter, Coco. If no pre-nup exists then the two will be splitting any money earned by the couple in their 12 years of marriage will be split down the middle; a prospect that doesn't seem exactly fair considering Courteney is worth around $75 million compared to Arquette's $18 million.

When they initially split two years ago, both David and Courteney stated that they remained good friends committed to raising their daughter together. They released a joint statement to the press saying they were separating in order to better understand themselves and what each needed in a partner and marriage. While Arquette had expressed during an appearance on the Howard Stern radio show in 2011 that he wanted to get back together with Cox, Courteney disagreed, stating that they were better off apart.

While it seems that this couple has been able to avoid the legal battles and troubles that often arise where divorce is concerned, this is far from the norm. Particularly when a child is involved, couples seeking divorce often find themselves embroiled in long and often nasty legal battles regarding earnings, property, custody and child support. Navigating the murky waters of divorce proceedings is inadvisable without the help of an experienced divorce attorney. Contact our law offices today to speak with a knowledgeable Illinois divorce lawyer today if you or someone you know is going through a divorce.