Arizona, like many other states, is a no-fault divorce state. This means that, in most cases, even when the couple agrees that one spouse’s extramarital affair was the reason for the divorce, the court does not need to consider the affair or apportion blame.
Many Arizona readers of gossip columns will not be surprised to hear that director Rupert Sanders and his ex-wife Liberty Ross are finally divorced. Sanders was publicly revealed to have had an affair with actress Kristen Stewart back in 2012. While the divorce was admittedly brought on by an affair, that was never an issue for the courts.
The property division aspects of the divorce grant Ross the couple’s homes in Los Angeles and London, a portion of the proceeds of one of Sanders’ films and monthly spousal support of $25,000 for the next four years or until she remarries. The former spouses have two children, ages 7 and 9, and they will share custody with Ross receiving $14,000 a month in child support.
All couples going through a divorce must go through the process of property division, in which the marital property is divided between the ex-spouses. Under Arizona’s community property law, the marital property is divided more or less 50-50, but courts have some discretion to make an uneven split if necessary.
Property received before or after the marriage, as well as certain types of property acquired during the marriage, is considered separate property. Separate property is usually not subject to distribution and remains the property of one party.
Items considered community property typically include wages earned during the marriage, homes and retirement accounts. The actual property divided and how it might be classified are considerations specific to each divorce case. Arizona attorneys with divorce-related experience can help people considering divorce to understand how the process works.
Source: People, “Rupert Sanders and Liberty Ross Are Divorced,” K.C. Blumm, July 26, 2014
