TV personality Kim Kardashian and New York Nets basketball player Kris Humphries were married on August 20, 2011 in one of the most elaborate and expensive weddings of all time. The $10 million ceremony, which featured a $15,000 cake, was televised on prime time TV. Yet the marriage lasted for only 72 days. On October 31, 2011, Kardashian filed for divorce.
Humphries followed up with a request for a separation and an annulment based on fraud. He claims that Kardashian only married him to improve ratings for her reality show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians. However, Humphries has filed several documents to prolong the divorce.
Kardashian, who denies she married Humphries for the sake of her show, is expecting a child with musician/director Kanye West and would like the divorce to be final before her late June due date. It looks like Kardashian may get her wish.
A New York judge has set a May 6 trial date for the divorce. The trial is expected to last about five days.
The May trial date will occur in the middle of the NBA playoff season. Marshall Waller, Humphries’ attorney, asked for the trial to be delayed until the end of basketball season. The request was denied on the grounds that Humphries’ attorneys have had plenty of time to prepare for the trial. Waller has since withdrawn from the case.
While your divorce may not be as high profile as the Kardashian-Humphries case, stalling is a common tactic. Husbands use delay tactics to increase your legal costs and extend the time during which you must cover living expenses. The hope is that the financial pressure will force you to accept his settlement offer. Your best defense is an experienced San Francisco divorce attorney.