Former Fleetwood Mac lead guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and his wife Kristen Messner have gone “their own way.” Messner ended the 21-year marriage when she filed for divorce in Los Angeles, according to court records. The pair met at a 2000 photoshoot in which Messner was the photographer and Buckingham was the subject.
It is unclear what caused the separation, although it appears Buckingham is entering single life with momentum. The singer released a new single from his upcoming self-titled solo album the same day news of the divorce broke.
What is at stake
It is unclear whether the couple had a prenuptial agreement in place. However, experts speculate that such an agreement is likely – as Buckingham had already experienced great financial success in the music industry prior to their marriage. If no agreement exists, sorting out the couple’s multimillion-dollar estate may take considerable time.
Additionally, the couple still has a minor child – their daughter Stella, 17 – who may now become the subject of a custody battle. Their marriage produced two other adult children.
Divorce doesn’t have to be messy
Divorce can be a turbulent and even traumatic experience. While your relationship with your spouse may have been stable and respectful at the height of the marriage, the claws can come out when divorce is on the table and lines are drawn in the sand.
However, there are certain things you can do to make the process easier on you both:
- Making an agreement ahead of time: A prenuptial agreement can be extremely helpful in laying out the terms of your divorce in advance of the marriage. Even during your marriage, if you and your spouse want to start mapping out what separate lives would look like, a postnuptial or separation agreement can accomplish many of the same goals.
- Collaborative approach: If you and your spouse are still on good terms, exploring collaborative divorce options can greatly ease the strain of the process. For example, mediation can be an effective and inexpensive way to create a divorce agreement. This route avoids contentious legal battles in court and enables you to keep the terms of your divorce in your hands – not a judge’s.
- Legal advocacy: If working together with your spouse is not in the cards, then obtaining robust legal counsel becomes critical. A vengeful ex-spouse may try to take everything you hold dear away from you. If your case goes to court, you will need an experienced attorney on your side who will fight to protect your interests. They can craft a legal strategy that emphasizes your objectives while also giving you an empathetic voice in court.
When going through a difficult time in life, many of us struggle to ask for help. However, divorce is one of those times where neglecting to seek out the legal support you need can lead to life-altering consequences. An experienced divorce attorney can help to ease your burden and fight for a fair outcome for you.
