Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump Divorce Update: Things Are Not So Friendly Anymore

Donald Trump Jr. and wife Vanessa Trump attend a sponsored event
[Source: Bravo]

There are several possible reasons why the president’s son and his estranged wife are now in court.

Donald Trump Jr. and his estranged wife, Vanessa Trump landed in court over a dispute in their divorce battle. The two appeared in state Supreme Court in New York City on Thursday for a hearing in their previously uncontested divorce. It is now contested, which means that there is a major issue that cannot be resolved without the court. It was previously believed that both parties had agreed on child custody terms, child support payments, division of property and assets, and alimony.

They were fighting over child custody issues and State Supreme Court Justice Michael Katz held a short proceeding regarding their five children and parental rights, the Associated Press reports.

The two should have the agreement hammered out in writing in the coming weeks. Despite their smiles for the cameras today, it must have been tense between the two in order for this to reach court, says celebrity divorce lawyer Peter Walzer, founding partner of Walzer Melcher law firm in Los Angeles. “There are two different tracks to take, if you’re on track one you’re gonna settle your case, you don’t need court intervention, you’re gonna resolve it through mediation or other alternative dispute resolution. The other is court. In New York, if you have a contested issue you have to report to the court and you have to appear in person. They’re making you be accountable. In this case it could be custody, it could be support, and the court needs to set a date and start tracking how you’re doing on this,” Welzer says. He doubts the two will make it to trial though, the bottom line is there’s something they can’t sort out themselves or with a mediator, and it’s likely the court will help them come up with a plan. “If it’s a custody matter, they may send you to a custody mediator in the court,” he says. “I would say most people don’t want to go to court in this case because of the publicity; I doubt they want to be in the tabloids.” Vanessa filed for divorce from Don Jr. on March 15, saying in a joint statement: “After 12 years of marriage, we have decided to go our separate ways. We will always have tremendous respect for each other and our families. We have five beautiful children together and they remain our top priority. We ask for your privacy during this time.” They share five kids together, sons Donald III, 9, Tristan, 6, and Spencer, 5, and daughters Kai, 11, and Chloe, 4. Don Jr. is currently dating former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle.