Illinois residents are well aware of the recent trial stemming from George Zimmerman’s involvement in the death of Trayvon Martin. After Zimmerman was acquitted at trial, news involving the events gradually died down. However, recently Zimmerman has been re-introduced in the media, specifically due to a recently filed divorce which has quickly grown heated.
A divorce is no doubt a difficult endeavor for any separating couple. The causes of divorce vary, but range from financial difficulties to disagreements over child rearing and more. For Zimmerman’s wife, who filed for divorce just a short time ago, the high-profile court case and national media attention may have also strained the relationship. Only two months after Zimmerman was acquitted, his wife filed for divorce.
After the filing, she claims, she began moving her property out of the house along with her father and a friend. George Zimmerman was allegedly recording video of the items; at some point, he began to accuse her on the video of taking items that they had not agreed were hers to take. Shellie Zimmerman then began filming George in turn using her iPad, whereupon she claims he fled into the house and locked the door behind him. The home was the property of Shellie Zimmerman’s parents.
Such a contentious beginning to a divorce could mean much more legal trouble in the future if not managed well. And heated disputes over property division are unfortunately common today. In a situation such as this, where emotions run high, enlisting the help of a legal professional can make all the difference. Equitable property settlements will need to take into account much more than just real property – retirement accounts, business assets, investments and other types of assets all need to be properly valued. And assets in Illinois will not simply be split 50/50 – in order to reach an overall fair settlement, sometimes more creative options need to be discussed.
Making difficult decisions in a divorce, especially concerning property division, can mean arguments and high emotions for the separating couple. But working with a legal professional can help minimize the stress and ensure the rights and interests of both parties are protected.
Source: New York Daily News, “Shellie Zimmerman wants her divorce with Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman to ‘end with a whimper, not a bang,’ lawyer says,”Beth Stebner, Sept. 11, 2013