Denver Divorce Lawyer News & Blog

Wal-Mart Heiress Files for Divorce; Is Her Prenup Valid?

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Family Law in DenverPaige Laurie, the granddaughter of co-founder James Walton of Wal-Mart, filed divorce papers early last year to end her marriage to Patrick Bode Dubbert, her high school sweetheart. Laurie has provided Dubbert with a luxurious lifestyle, and he is seeking $400,000 a month in spousal support (or maintenance, as it is referred to in Colorado) to pay for his rental home, furniture, personal chef, clothes, personal trainer, vacations, entertainment, personal stylist and driver. While that may sound like a lot of scratch, the number pales in comparison to Laurie’s family’s $4.1 billion net worth.

However, it is unclear whether Dubbert will receive the alimony he seeks. Dubbert and Laurie signed a prenuptial agreement entitling Dubbert to spousal support in the event of a divorce. He is currently receiving $30,000 per month for half the length of their six-year marriage, but he insists that the payments are not enough. The two are involved in a legal battle regarding the terms of the prenuptial agreement; Laurie wants the agreement honored, while Dubbert wants it thrown out. Dubbert claims that he was defrauded by attorneys and coerced to sign the prenup. If his claims are true, this could possibly be grounds for the agreement being voided.

Things to Consider for a Premarital Agreement

It is a myth that prenuptial agreements are regularly thrown out by divorce courts””the vast majority are upheld if drafted and executed properly under the guidance of experienced attorneys. Here are a few things to consider if you are thinking about a premarital agreement:

  • It is best if both parties have their own lawyers when negotiating the terms of the prenup.
  • Both parties must provide true and complete disclosure of their financial assets, income and debt.
  • The agreement is in written form and signed with ample time before the wedding””having this time to consider and negotiate the agreement will avoid future allegations of duress or coercion.

Questions about prenups or want a lawyer to review one that has been presented to you? Reach out to our attorneys for a meeting to review your situation!

Divorce Matters ”“ Denver Divorce Attorneys
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/04/walmart-heiress-ex-paige-laurie-divorce-bo-dubbert_n_6613142.html