Dissolving a marriage is a complicated process, not only emotionally but also legally. It requires a series of seemingly endless administrative procedures, such as filing documents and, in some cases, negotiating property and child custody matters.
The first thing you should do is hire a specialized lawyer to advise you. Costs vary depending on the type of divorce, whether it’s mutual agreement or contested. In cases where both parties agree to the separation and the terms of the process, the costs are usually lower.
When there is a disagreement over the division of property or child custody, the divorce becomes a contested process, which increases its duration and costs. These situations require a family court judge and involve additional expenses such as professional fees and court proceedings due to the disagreement over the terms of the separation.
When divorces are mutually agreed upon, they can be settled before a notary public at a lower cost. This is also known as an express divorce, which can be finalized in 15 days if there are no complications.
Attorney fees in a divorce by mutual agreement depend on the professional’s experience and the complexity of the case, ranging from $1,500,000 to $4,000,000 Colombian pesos, with notary fees ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 COP.
On the other hand, attorney fees in a contested divorce also depend on the professional’s experience and the complexity of the case, ranging from $5,000,000 to $15,000,000 COP. In addition to court costs, between $500,000 and $2,000,000 COP.
The duration can range from six months to two years, or even longer if there are disputes over property or child custody. Because of this, it’s always recommended to reach a prior agreement that reduces costs and waiting time.
The good news is that on December 27, 2024, President Gustavo Petro signed Law 2442, known as the “free divorce law” or “unilateral divorce law”, in Colombia. This new legislation brings significant changes to divorce in the country, such as a new ground for divorce.
The law adds a paragraph to Article 154 of the Civil Code, establishing “the sole will of either spouse” as a new ground for divorce.
It’s a simplified process; either spouse can file for divorce at any time, accompanied by a proposal containing measures to regulate the effects of the divorce. No justification is required.
It’s not necessary to prove specific grounds such as domestic violence, alcoholism, or two years of separation in order to file for divorce. This law maintains guarantees in terms of the distribution of property and the protection of the spouse and children.
At #sinrecato, we are fans of love stories with happy endings, where they live happily ever after. However, since reality surpasses fiction, I must confess that we also like other people’s stories because even though gossip doesn’t feed us, it entertains us, like popcorn.
So today I’m going to mention some famous divorces that turned into lucrative negotiation$:
Jeff Bezos and Mackenzie Scott: the founder of Amazon achieved an amicable separation after 25 years of marriage, giving his ex-wife 4% of Amazon, worth $35 billion dollars.
While Bezos drops down the list of the world’s richest men, with a net worth of $171 billion, Mackenzie Scott is the third richest woman in the world. Here’s to more amicable separations.
Alec Wildenstein and Jocelyn Wildenstein: this couple divorced in 1999. Alec was a businessman and art dealer, while Jocelyn was an American socialite with an addiction to cosmetic surgery, which is why she was known as “the cat woman”.
After discovering her husband’s infidelity, she filed for divorce, which was settled for $2.5 billion. The judge who presided over the divorce prohibited the “cat woman” from using her money for further plastic surgery.
Alec Wildenstein died in 2008 of prostate cancer, and Jocelyn, despite her immense fortune, filed for bankruptcy in 2018.
Bill and Melinda Gates: after 30 years of marriage, they divorced. The couple, who have three children together, didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement, so their $130 billion fortune, consisting of properties, a private jet, a large art collection, yachts, company shares, among other assets, had to be divided in half, $65.25 billion. Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica Radic: the founder of Formula 1 and Croatian model Slavica Radic divorced amicably in 2008. After 24 years together and two daughters, the British businessman’s ex-wife received almost $700 million.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West: after seven years of marriage, they divorced in 2022. They did have a prenuptial agreement, which stipulated that Kanye must be responsible for 50% of the medical, educational, and security expenses of their four children.
The properties they bought together were divided equally, and the approximate sum is $1.5 billion.
Although these celebrities are no longer a couple, most of them will continue to be very delighted after reaching such agreements and, of course, they will live happily ever after. Marriage will always be complicated, for better or for worse, but in the end, it’s the parties involved who will know how to face those obstacles and adventures together. What do you think about these agreements and divorces?
Traducción del español de Catalina Oviedo Brugés
