Just before the New Year, actor Kelsey Grammer asked a California family court to bifurcate his divorce from his wife, Real Housewife of Beverly Hills Camille Grammer. It was presumed at the time that Kelsey wanted to marry his new fiancee Kayte Walsh quickly. (Kelsey confirmed that on the Late Show with David Letterman this week, telling Letterman that the two plan to marry next month.)

Kelsey might be jumping the gun a bit with his wedding announcement though. Camille filed her official response to Kelsey’ bifurcation request this week. Not surprisingly, she opposes the request.

Although it may be easy to pass off her objection to the actions of a woman scorned, a review of Camille’s declaration in support of her filing reveals some very real concerns.

Kelsey wants the judge to dissolve his almost 13 year marriage to Camille, making him single and legally eligible to marry again, and resolve all remaining issues (property division, child custody, child support, spousal support) at a later date. Camille is concerned that his impending remarriage will negatively affect her legal rights to the approximately $120 million marital estate.

Camille’s concerns are rooted in the fact that Kayte Walsh, upon marrying Kelsey, would presumably receive some legal rights to property that is still subject to divorce litigation between Kelsey and Camille. Kelsey did file paperwork at the time of his bifurcation request which joined his interest in various pension funds to the suit, this was done in an attempt to meet statutory conditions which would protect the other spouse’s interest in those funds until the divorce was finally resolved.

In the filing, Camille estimates the value of the marital estate at $120,000,000 including multiple real estate properties, artwork, brokerage accounts and more than 25 vehicles.

Library Topics: bifurcation, legal eligibility to marry, divorce litigation, dividing pension funds, marital property