Separation

The week of Nov. 25 brought about a stream of tabloid stories alleging that professional golfer Tiger Woods had an affair with nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel. From that Wednesday on, many new developments surfaced and Woods’ story has remained the most prominently viewed headline in all forms of media.

The Timeline

Nov. 27: Woods crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and neighbor’s tree close to his Florida home. It was also reported that Woods’ wife Elin Nordegren used a golf club to smash one of the car windows and told police she was trying to get unconscious husband out of the car. Woods was briefly hospitalized in the early hours of the morning.

Nov. 29: Police tried to interview Woods since the car accident, but his lawyer turned them away. He then released a personal statement on his website saying, “This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Nov. 30: Due to his injuries, Woods withdraws from the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament.

Dec. 2: Another woman named Jaimee Grubbs came forth saying she had a 31-month long affair with Woods and has proof of the relationship in over 300 text messages. Us Weekly magazine published a story claiming Grubbs first met Woods the week after the 2007 Masters.

Following this outbreak, Woods released another statement on his website acknowledging and apologizing for unidentified “transgressions.”

Dec. 7: A report was released by the police officer who responded to Woods’ accident which stated Woods was initially unresponsive and lying on the road covered in a blanket and resting his head on a pillow.

Dec. 11: Woods announced on his website that he is taking an “indefinite break” from golf following the two allegation-filled weeks. He wrote, “I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children… After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.”

Since then, more women have come forth alleging they had extramarital affairs with Woods. Due to the nature of his infidelity and immoral behavior, a number of sponsors have since dropped Woods as their primary spokesperson. There has been no word of an official divorce or separation between Woods and his wife in the picture just yet, although it’s looking extremely probable at this point.

Just when I forgot about NY Christie Brinkley, supermodel, and her errant husband, Peter Cook, BING they are back in the news. Their New York divorce was the topic at our water cooler today.

Mud slinging aside, the feuding couple finally came to a separation and custody agreement in Riverhead, NY with the help of their divorce attorneys. Many of you don’t know that Stargazer is from out yonder there on Eastern Long Island.

Issues such as custody and visitation for their two kids were finally “hammered” out. The couple had some few choice words to call each other: her to him – narcissist; him to her – custodial interference, etc., etc. Wonder if poor kids Jack and Sailor got caught up in the legal haggling?

New York Divorce and Separation

Divorce and separation issues are matters of family law. Although couples can divorce with forms without an attorney, it’s smarter to have one on your case especially if your ex is nasty. If the couple cannot work out their differences, a judge would have to hear both sides. In the case of child custody, the judge would decide who would be the better caregiver to the children. Other volatile issues surrounding divorce such as debt and asset division, visitation, spousal maintenance, and child support may also be mitigated by the judge if the couple cannot agree.

Too bad Christie Brinkley and Cook didn’t try mediation as a means to a better bitter end. Mediation allows a psychologist or attorney to facilitate the divorce agreement and counsels the couple so as to come to an agreement on issues instead of going to court.

It certainly would save Brinkley and Cook a lot of money in NY divorce attorney fees.

Thinking about a divorce? I found some interesting divorce articles on a blog called www.settlementboard.com.