The divorce between Jersey Shore star, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, and her husband, Roger Mathews, is getting uglier. Communicating during divorce, especially when you have children, is never easy. Are there lessons to learn from South Jersey?
Communicating ‘down the shore’
The Jersey Shore actress released a long statement on her website, accusing her ex of physical abuse and allegedly putting their two young children in harm’s way.
In a video message released the following day, Mathews said her “rant” was “highly erroneous” and “had many lies in it” and then he posted copies of legal documents he says his attorneys sent to the divorce judge.
Mathews posted a lengthy written message on his website:
You painted me as a woman beater. The facts are these. No one, man or woman, husband or wife has the right to put their hands on each other. I take responsibility for that night in question, and one other night that I can think of that, I pushed you. You edited out your actions and violent behavior prior to me pushing you which I knew you would do.
Not to be outdone, JWoww’s team then said in a statement that the accusations he makes in the documents are “laced with false statements.”
Florida No-Fault Divorce
I’ve written about communicating during divorce before, and the “good divorce” too. Historically in Florida, in order to obtain a divorce, one had to prove the existence of legal grounds such as adultery.
This often-required additional expenses on behalf of the aggrieved party, only serving to make the divorce process more expensive and cumbersome than it already was.
Florida Statutes actually still provide that these things may be considered under certain circumstances in the award of alimony, equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities, and determination of parental responsibility.
However, case authority shows little consideration from a legal perspective, relegating them to more of an emotional appeal. But just because Florida does not require a showing of fault does not mean you should go out and create fault either!
In the years leading up to the enactment of “no-fault” divorce, courts often granted divorces on bases that were easier to prove, the most common being “mental cruelty.”
In Florida, either spouse can file for the dissolution of marriage. You must prove that a marriage exists, one party has been a Florida resident for six months before filing the petition, and the marriage is irretrievably broken.
Fist Pump!
For Jersey Shore cast members, whose way of life was “GTL” (gym, tan, laundry) communicating during divorce is not the time to pull punches. But should they be making these online admissions?
We look like a–holes to the world. We are. We are both a–holes.
Mathews also added:
You claim in your rant that I put our children in harm’s way by filming myself and driving. I was doing 20 miles an hour leaving my buddy’s development, but I will concede that that was not well thought out and I will absolutely refrain from doing that in the future. It’s hypocritical of you however cause you are on the phone constantly while driving and doing your makeup and texting.
Communicating during divorce can be ugly and spiral out of control. Many would be surprised to learn divorce lawyers and judges are not spoiling to see a good fight.
The E Online article is here.