Divorce Lessons From Gypsy Rose?
Just when you thought this was another boring blog post, we deliver you a small dose of levity – our analysis of the Gypsy Rose divorce filing.
In case you missed it, Gypsy Rose was thrust into the limelight of American celebrity culture after being convicted of convincing her then-boyfriend to murder her mother. During her incarceration, her now-husband, Ryan Anderson, mustered up the gusto to contact Gypsy after watching a documentary about her story. The two quickly fell into a whirlwind romance and Gypsy and Ryan were married in a prison ceremony in July 2022. Throughout her incarceration and after her release, Gypsy released several documentaries and docuseries, both with and without her husband, making an undisclosed but presumably large amount of money.
After two full years of so-called marital bliss, Gypsy has recently filed for divorce. In her divorce filing, Gypsy reportedly seeks spousal maintenance and asserts that her husband, Ryan, is not entitled to any.
Why does Gypsy Rose, in all her infamy, require spousal maintenance from her husband, a Louisiana based special education teacher? The likely scenario is that she doesn’t (as evidenced by her Kardashian-inspired makeover made complete with a rhinoplasty, dental work, and a head of newly-bleached platinum hair). The reality is that Gypsy’s demand is merely procedural. When filing an initial petition for divorce, certain boxes are checked regardless of the circumstances surrounding the divorce. In all likelihood, Gypsy will not receive spousal maintenance, nor does she expect to receive it. It is significantly more likely that she will need to pay spousal maintenance to her soon-to-be ex-husband, though even this is doubtful given the duration and nature of their marriage.
So, what’s the purpose of spousal maintenance, and who qualifies for it?
Purpose of Spousal Maintenance
Spousal maintenance (f/k/a “alimony”) is a mechanism by which the Court seeks to maintain some semblance of the marital lifestyle for the non-monied spouse - for a temporary period. Non-monied spouses earn substantially less than their partner at the time of divorce. The purpose of spousal maintenance is to help get the non-monied spouse back on their feet. This is especially true if, during the marriage, one partner took a backseat to their career to allow the other to advance in their career beyond what would have otherwise been possible (i.e. one parent provided childcare while the other parent worked longer hours). However, just because two people are married and one partner earns more than the other, that does not mean that the non-monied spouse is automatically entitled to spousal support.
Factors Considered
A long list of factors is considered when determining whether the non-monied spouse is entitled to spousal maintenance. These factors include length of marriage (including whether the parties have children), present and future earning capacity, and equitable distribution of marital property.
The duration of spousal maintenance is dependent upon the length of the marriage. Barring very limited exceptions, the days of “lifetime maintenance” are in the relative past, even for long-term marriages. For the most part, non-monied spouses are expected to go back to work after the duration of spousal maintenance has expired.
Most Likely Outcome for Ms. Rose
Even when ignoring the fact that Gypsy was incarcerated for most of the marriage, and upon release was immediately offered lucrative professional opportunities, the fact remains that the marriage was a short one (two years) and, for better or worse, the parties did not have any children together.
If you were shocked when you first heard about the particulars of this divorce, you are not alone. However, regardless of circumstance, certain aspects of divorce are simply procedural. This is why it is important to find an experienced team to lead you through the process and set realistic goals.
At Artese Zandri, we help couples prepare for marriage and navigate divorce. If you or someone you know has questions about family law, reach out to us for a complimentary consultation at consultation@artesezandri.com.