The Jon & Kate reality show is raising some real questions
about how parents should act in the middle of a divorce. (Photo:
The Today Show)
Kate Gosselin’s accusation that her estranged husband Jon has all but emptied their joint bank account of $230,000 not only adds another chapter to the Jon & Kate reality show saga, but it also raises the very real issue of what rights parents have when they divide their marital assets. During an interview on the Today Show this morning, Kate explained that the children’s savings accounts remain protected, but that she has been left with only $1,000 to pay all of the family expenses.
Just days after TLC announced that the network would be reworking the reality series Jon & Kate Plus Eight into a program that only focused on single parent Kate Gosselin and her eight children, the network has stopped taping the program altogether amid claims that Jon Gosselin no longer feels that the series is good for his children. News of the $230,000 bank withdrawal started surfacing last night.
So what do divorcing parents need to know about Florida law as far as financial assets are concerned? According to Divorcenet.com, any property or bank accounts that are in both spouse’s names are considered marital property that are subject to division between the parties upon divorce:
In the case of a house, it is presumed that you intended to make a gift to your spouse and it will therefore be joint property to be divided upon divorce. You can try to rebut this presumption with proof that you put it into joint names for some other reason besides a gift. As far as money, if you take some that you had before the marriage and put it into a joint account and commingle (mix) it with marital funds, in general the Court is going to find that it is marital property subject to division between the parties upon divorce.
The Divorcenet.com Web site also includes information on how child custody and visitation are negotiated as well as how child support is calculated for every state in the union, something that the Pennsylvania courts will undoubtedly be grappling with in the months to come for the Gosselins’ eight-year-old twins and five-year-old sextuplets.
Between all of the "he said/she said" interviews on national TV, the tabloid antics and the sudden interest on Jon's part to stop production for the benefit of his children once he got bumped off the show, the reality show that appears to have had little to no educational value for viewers in recent months might actually serve a purpose, if only to show parents what not to do to their children and each other if they choose to split up.
For more info: Read a related article on Examiner.com.
Comments
Hey I'd be mad too, if my soon to be ex stole the money to finance his bad habits (Skanks, Partying and Drugs).
What a tool. I hope he has to repay every cent. Of course, since he has already spent it on his less than professional lawyer and his low life GF, and others that he has slept with, it will probably never happen. What a waste of money, time, effort he is. Also, he should be ashamed that he has deprived his children, who he obviously does not care at all about, of a future. Jon, I hope you go to prison for your theft.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!