Although high profile divorce cases often make the news in Texas, one celebrity has done his best to keep the particulars of his split quiet. But with an on-going child custody dispute between basketball star Dwyane Wade and his ex-wife, some details of the divorce are starting to emerge, suggesting that child custody is not the only issue over which the former couple is at odds.
When the couple divorced last year, Wade was awarded custody of his two sons. His ex-wife was awarded visitation every other weekend. But she claims in a recent court filing that Wade is making it difficult for her to exercise her visitation rights. Her attorney cites one recent example when the woman traveled to Miami, where the children reside with Wade, only to be told when she arrived that the older boy, 11, was in Detroit for a basketball tournament. She is now seeking more time with her sons.
Wade’s response to the custody modification request reveals that he made an initial $1 million payment to his former spouse when the divorce was finalized and continues to pay her $25,000 per month in alimony plus travel and living expenses of around $10,000 per month. It also appears the question of property division remains unsettled. The former spouses are scheduled for trial in July to determine the distribution of their marital assets.
Wade’s case demonstrates some of the challenges that come with a high net worth divorce. One issue that often arises when one spouse earns substantially more income than the other is whether the higher earning spouse has to pay spousal support to the other. Division of marital assets also can be more challenging simply because there are more assets to divide. It is advisable to work through these issues with the assistance of a skilled family law attorney.
Source: The Miami Herald, “Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade paying $25,000 a month in alimony,” Ruth Manuel-Logan, April 25, 2013