According to R&B singer Usher’s Petition for Divorce, filed last week in Fulton County, Georgia, he and estranged wife Tameka Foster Raymond actually separated last July. The former couple had their second son in December 2008, so Tameka was three or four months pregnant at the time of the split.

Instead of a two year marriage, it looks like the couple was together for just under a year. An eleven-month marriage will certainly make it more difficult for Foster to receive substantial alimony and property distribution judgments in this divorce.

EOnline.com obtained a copy of the documents filed in court on Friday by Usher’s attorney Ivory T. Brown (In the court documents, Brown strangely insists on spelling her name with only lower-case letters.) In addition to the Petition for Divorce, Usher also submitted initial discovery documents to Foster. These are standard requests for the production of documents that might be used as evidence in the case and standard interrogatories or questions to be answered under oath. Discovery allows each party to adequately prepare for trial and/or settlement negotiations.

EOnline speculates that some of the requests indicate that Foster will allege infidelity on Usher’s part and that she hired a private detective to investigate her suspicions. Usher’s discovery requests include a request for the disclosure of copies of “notes, cards, letters, photographs, film, documents, tapes, voice recordings, gift, jewelry, clothes” or other evidence that reflects on Usher’s conduct during their marriage, as well as detective reports, photos or recordings that have resulted from either “surveillance or investigation” of the singer.

I am hesitant to read too much into discovery requests. Divorce attorneys often use very broad interrogatories and requests for production of documents. This could just be a “scorched earth” set of requests. Or there could be private detective reports and surveillance. Or it could even be a matter of calling someone’s bluff if unfounded allegations have been made. There is really no sense in speculating this early in the case.

Foster has hired high-profile Atlanta family law attorney, Randy Kessler. Kessler has previously represented the mother of rapper T.I.’s children, the mother of boxer Evander Holyfield’s child, mothers of basketball player Jason Caffey’s children, the mother of football player Andre Rison’s children, football player Travis Henry and rapper Juvenile.

Also See:

• Usher Files for Divorce