Gibson Divorce To Be Costly
Mel Gibson’s wife, Robyn, has filed for divorce after 28 years of marriage. Although Robyn did not cite a specific date of separation, TMZ is reporting Mel Gibson’s legal papers state the couple have been separated since August 26, 2006. Gibson’s notorious DUI arrest was on July 28, 2006, and rumor has it the arrest caused a lot of strain in the marriage. The actual date of separation could have a huge effect if the case goes to trial. California is a community property state, meaning Robyn would be entitled to half of any money Mel earned during the marriage. If the couple separated in August 2006, Robyn is out any money Mel has earned in the intervening years. Both Robyn and Mel cite “irreconcilible differences” as the reason for divorce.
Another issue that could be effected by the alleged date of separation are photos taken of Mel Gibson kissing another woman a month ago in Costa Rica. Obviously if the couple have been separated a couple of years, it’s not as big an issue as if the couple just separated. What qualifies as “separated” can be in the mind of the spouse, but most people consider it the time they first started discussing getting divorced and/or stopped having sex. If Robyn and Mel moved into separate bedrooms, or separate homes, in August of 2006, Mel has a much stronger case that that is when the couple separated. Provided, of course, that they did not continue to have marital relations.