Perception of Fairness in Divorce

Toward the end of 2009, details about the impending divorce of billionaire businessman Peter Brant and model Stephanie Seymour began to emerge in a Vanity Fair article. Over the next year, both sides threw allegations at one another through the media. Brant, according to Seymour, was a controlling and intimidating husband; while Brant alleged that Seymour was a chronic drinker, bad mother and abused controlled substances.

After nearly 18 months of publicly bashing one another and spending millions of dollars in legal fees, a report in the New York Post noted that the couple ultimately decided to reconcile. The judge in the case found the reconciliation interesting and simply wished the couple "good luck."

While Brant and Seymour have not commented publicly on their divorce, there is some speculation that financial motives may be behind the reconciliation. Brant, who wed Seymour without a prenuptial agreement, would stand to lose considerable wealth as a result of the split.

Gender Bias in Divorce?

Brant may have also felt that he had an uphill battle against the court, as many men do. There is a perceived bias against men and fathers, in particular, in divorce and family law cases. A recent Divorcenet survey found that 81 percent of respondents believed that fathers were treated unfairly in divorce. The survey, however, also notes that this perception is not necessarily grounded in reality, as there have been more and more single fathers raising children in the United States.

In 2007, there were over 13.7 million single parents, raising over 20 million children according to the United States Census Bureau. Over 16 percent, or just over 2.2 million, were single father households, up from 1.7 million in 1995. The data further indicates that the number of single fathers grew 62 percent from 1990 to 2000, with the trend continuing to rise.

A recent ABC report outlines some of the reasons for the rise in single fathers raising children, including an increased societal acceptance of the single father model, more judges willing to award custody to fathers and mothers choosing career paths over family life.

Regardless of gender, divorce can be an emotional and overwhelming experience. It is also something that you do not need to go through alone. An experienced attorney can help guide you through the process and make sure that your rights are protected.