[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Rook

hmm...
Someone said it best {and I think he's straight, not sure, I gotta find his name, damnit...}
"So they want the right to be Just as miserable as the rest of us? Go for it..When you're tired of it, fight for the right to endure the Endless Bliss of Divorce, custody and alimony"


Yes, we're held to a Higher Standard due to the fact we're {generally speaking} raising a Loud cry for Equal Marital rights...
But, Melissa's certainly not the first one to pull this...
I'll gladly refresh your memories
Let's discuss Martina Navratilova, who is , btw, enduring yet another Palimony issue..
No, she didnt "marry" per se, but she sure as hell hasn't learned her lesson...
Get a pre-nup !!
Anne Heche and Ellen DeGeneres aren't quite on the map, to my knowledge those 2 didnt marry..
Ellen did marry Portia though, and so far{knock on wood} they're blissfully happy....

As for Melissa trying to nullify stuff...
Plenty folks ask for Annulments, particularly Catholics..
Why can't she?
Higher Standards?
Trying to avoid Tammy's legal right to certain compensations for enduring lord knows what in the course of their Relationship?
The ones suffering, I'm pretty sure, besides Tammy, are the kids...
Bad enuff they seen Mum split once before, now they gotta watch Mums own community debate/dissect her separation to the last point...

In California, if you married for 10 years +, your Ex is entitled to a lot of stuff, unless stipulated prior to "I Do", which is why , I'm guessing, Tom Cruise kicked Nicole Kidman to the curb right before their 10th....

I could be wrong...

Even though it can be a very sensitive subject, pre-nups/break-up agreements should be part of every marriage. Negotiated in a fair manner by each person. I don't see a lot of discussion about this within same-sex relationships and marriages... or even with most straight unions with just regular people. Yet, we all know that break-ups/divorce is a possibility. So much emotional stress can be saved with just doing this! I know, it isn't very romantic, but it is practical. And can actually be a good way to develop communication skills together.. BEFORE... a major stressor hits. this needs to be done right along with powers of attorney and end of life directives.

Hell, make it romantic, celebrate the completion of all of these legal things by going on a weekend mini-vacation or something. Frame it all in the context of genuinely caring for one another in a fair and equitable manner. If you have children, there are many legalities to deal with which are much the same as in het marriages.

I have no idea if Etheridge did a pre-nup and I hope she and her spouse did (I don't know a thing about either of them, really.. like some of Etheridge's music and knew she battled cancer). Would really not make much to me if they didn't simply due to Etheridge’s celebrity and she probably has some wealth. And what were the agreements about this in terms of her spouse? California divorce law will be utilized for a settlement. Hopefully, a pre-nup will be in place to be the foundation of the settlement and how they are going to share and continue to care for their kids.`

UGH.. Thinking about we can always count on money/assets to be the edge of the knife in death and divorce! And one of the most difficult things for couples to agree about within or outside of marriage.

Oh, yeah, I remember Martina’s palimony case! And there have been others, so it isn’t as if no precedent has been set, especially in California. Absolutely, the time one is married is part of California divorce law and it is a community property state along with having no fault divorce.
I really do hope they both keep the drama out of all of this. Of course, the media loves stuff like this.

Things like one's honor and character really come into focus at times like these.