Two-time Grammy winning singer-songwriter Ben Harper filed for divorce from wife Laura Dern earlier this month. By all accounts, the filing was a surprise to Dern. The couple was married in 2005, but have been together much longer than that (they have a nine-year-old son together).

Harper is asking for joint legal and physical custody of the couple’s two kids: son Ellery, 9, and daughter Jaya, 5. His filing requests that Dern be denied spousal support.

The divorce papers indicate that Harper and Dern separated back in January. Sources say though that they have been living together and traveling together until just this month.

TMZ.com has speculated that Harper identified the separation date as January 1, 2010 for financial reasons. Generally, income earned by the parties after the date of separation is considered non-marital property. It is yet to be seen if Dern contests the suggested date of separation. If she does so, the parties are free to present evidence to the judge in order to determine a date of separation.

The marriage is Dern’s first; Harper’s second. Harper is represented by Los Angeles family law attorney Susan Wiesner, whose previous clients have included Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora (in his divorce from actress Heather Locklear) and actor Jon Cryer.

Library Topics: divorce, joint legal and physical custody, spousal support, separation, non-marital property, family law attorney