Mad Men actress Elisabeth Moss filed divorce papers in Los Angeles this week, seeking to end her marriage to Saturday Night Live comic actor Fred Armisen. The now-former couple met in October 2008, when Moss joined her Mad Men co-star Jon Hamm in a few SNL skits. Moss and Armisen were engaged three months later, in January 2009.

They married on October 25, 2009 in New York. And eight months later, they split (June 26, 2010, according to the divorce petition).

Moss filed on the no-fault grounds of “irreconcilable differences.” Some sources cited conflicting work schedules and a long-distance relationship (Mad Men shoots in Los Angeles; SNL in New York City). Others indicated that the split can be blamed on Moss’s devotion to Scientology and Armisen’s lack of interest in the religion.

After the separation in June, Armisen began dating his SNL costar Abby Elliot. He was married once before his marriage to Moss.

It is unclear whether Armisen ever lived in California with Moss during their marriage. If not, he could certainly claim that California has no jurisdiction over him or the marriage. Even if they spent their married time in New York, I would not be surprised if Armisen voluntarily submitted to the California family court’s jurisdiction in order to get the divorce completed. California’s no-fault provisions will make resolution of the case fairly simple – assuming that there was either a prenuptial agreement and/or very little marital property to argue over (the couple has no children together).

Library Topics: divorce, no-fault divorce, prenuptial agreement, marital property