California is the homeland of celebrity divorces, and details of the divorce between movies stars Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith have become public. After ending their marriage of 19 years in mid-2015, the couple agreed to divide their substantial assets.
Banderas accepted a commitment to pay $65,000 every month in spousal support to Griffith. The couple sold their mansion in Los Angeles and divided the proceeds. Griffith received their Aspen home along with a Picasso painting titled “The Painter and His Model.” Banderas retained sole ownership of a portion of his art collection, including a drawing by Diego Rivera and another Picasso drawing.
Proceeds from the blockbuster movies “The Mask of Zorro,” “Spy Kids” and “Desperado” have been assigned exclusively to Banderas. Profits from their films produced between 2004 and 2014 will be split between the ex-spouses. Films that fall into this second category are “Shrek 2,” “Puss in Boots,” “Machete Kills” and “Expendables 3.” In 2004, the couple established a postnuptial agreement that may have guided the division of their property. Banderas and Griffith reportedly remain on good terms and were seen together at their daughter’s high school graduation.
Property division is a fundamental part of the divorce process. A number of factors could determine the terms, including a prenuptial or post-nuptial agreement. A person seeking a divorce, especially when substantial assets are present, might benefit from the support of an attorney. A negotiated divorce settlement agreement that covers property division and other applicable divorce legal issues might have a better chance of being achieved and subsequently approved by the court with legal assistance.
Source: US Weekly, “Melanie Griffith, Antonio Banderas Finalize Divorce: Who’s Getting What?“, Esther Lee, Dec. 8, 2015
