Celebrities divorcing quietly
It has been reported that Hollywood stars David Duchovny and Téa Leoni recently got divorced very much under the radar. Normally separations between the rich and famous are heavily publicised, generating debate amongst fans and adding inches to gossip columns. However, in this case it seems that the actors, who married in 1997 after only dating for eight weeks, managed to keep things under wraps, filing for divorce in June and settling the terms of their divorce amicably.
A turbulent marriage
The former couple previously separated twice, once in 2008 and again in 2011, before deciding to finally divorce, citing an “irretrievable breakdown of the relationship.” Elizabeth Téa Pantaleon, best known by her stage name of Téa Leoni, was previously married to television producer Neil Joseph Tardio, Jr. and has starred in films ranging from Deep Impact to Jurassic Park 3.
David Duchovny, who is most recognised for his role as FBI agent Fox Mulder in the X-Files, announced around the time of their first separation in 2008 that he had checked himself into a sex addiction rehabilitation clinic. Coincidentally, around the same time, he was playing the part of the bacchanalian lead character in the TV series Californication, leading to some commentators suggesting method acting as the cause of Duchovny’s real-life indiscretions.
Terms of divorce settled privately
According to TMZ, Mr Duchovny and Ms Pantaleon agreed on their own divorce terms, avoiding the need for an expensive and stressful court battle. They will retain joint custody of their two children and Duchovny will pay $40,000 each month in spousal support. In addition, he will be forking out a little over $8,000 every month in child support, as well as taking care of all the other expenses pertaining to their kids, including summer camp, private school and college costs.
Mediation keeps expenses down in a divorce
Although the terms of divorce agreed to by Duchovny and Leoni may seem very high, they will have saved a lot of money by resolving things themselves. Back in the non-celebrity world of the UK, mediation is being promoted by the Government, also as a way for anyone considering divorce to reduce the overall costs of going to court. At Crisp & Co, professional mediators Henry Crisp and Simon Clark have many years’ experience of helping ease the process of separation through this method. Click here to find out how they can help you with your own mediation.