Adele and Ex-Husband Simon Konecki Reach Divorce Settlement in California Nearly Two Years After Split

Adele is famous for delivering heart-wrenching ballads and power anthems about the highs and lows of romantic relationships. However, outside her music career, the Grammy-winning superstar was much more private about her romantic life. That included her divorce to ex-husband Simon Konecki.

According to press sources, Adele and Konecki were married for seven years and had one child, a son named Angelo, who was born in 2012. They announced their split in April 2019 through Adele’s publicist.

“Adele and her partner have separated,” the star’s representatives said in a statement to the Associated Press. “They are committed to raising their son together lovingly. As always they ask for privacy. There will be no further comment.”

Five months after that announcement, the singer filed for divorce in California, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split. She requested joint custody of their son, press sources indicate.

While the legal details around the split have taken almost two years to sort out, the couple finally reached a settlement that hopefully suits both of them. Read on to find out what are the hurdles they likely had to deal with, as well as some ways a divorcing couple in California could minimize the time and cost.

Why Did Adele File for Divorce in California?

When Adele and Konecki decided to split up, they had to deal with much more than the possible heartache and determining custody of their son. They also had to figure out how to divide her enormous $244 million fortune. Several U.K. news outlets noted that the couple did not sign a pre-nuptial agreement when they got married.

Konecki, 45, has his own assets that may factor into the settlement. He is the founder of Life Water and its charity partner, drop4drop, as well as the founder of Mammoth Water Resources, which is based in California. He purportedly had a successful career as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers before he moved into the non-profit sector in 2005. Though his current assets are unknown, he reportedly has at least $1 million in the bank.

While unconfirmed, Adele’s decision to initiate the proceedings in California might be because the couple owns property here. It’s also where Konecki’s business is located, press sources indicate.

Why Does Adele Have to Pay Her Ex-Husband in Their Divorce Settlement? 

Since Adele and her estranged husband reportedly never signed a pre-nuptial agreement and their divorce was filed in California, Konecki is by default entitled to half of her community property—wealth and property she amassed over the course of their seven-year marriage.

California is a community property state. That means a divorcing couple, no matter their earning capacities, must split their assets 50/50. A prenup would have dealt a variety of issues, such as:

• Each party’s rights and obligations concerning assets owned by before the marriage.
• Each party’s rights and obligations concerning assets acquired after the marriage.
• The disposition of property upon separation or death.
• The type of law governing the agreement.

Contrary to popular belief, a prenuptial agreement may actually strengthen a marriage. The process requires a couple to fully disclose their financial situation and openly discuss how they will handle their money and plan for their future. Being forced to honestly discuss financial issues such as how much is earned and spent can better prepare a couple for marriage.

Despite the lack of a prenup, all reports indicate that the 32-year-old “Hello” singer’s settlement was amicable. The fact that the pair reportedly represented themselves in the proceedings shows that they were willing to work together. They have also been living across the street from each other in Los Angeles as they co-parent their son amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, press sources indicate.

The exact amount the singer will have to pay her ex-husband is unknown. The California judge handling the case approved Adele’s request to keep details of the settlement private. One bizarre detail about the split circulated by the press is her decision not to write songs about her ex-husband. Adele is slated to release a new album this year, and it reportedly won’t feature anything about her marriage in order to protect her son.

Looking to File for Divorce in California Without a Lawyer? 

For most people, divorce settlements aren’t as complicated and won’t take as much time. A divorcing couple typically needs at least six months to take all the necessary steps to get divorced in California, such as filing and serving various documents.

You don’t even need to hire an attorney. You can instead use a service like A People’s Choice to file for divorce on your behalf and finalize your judgment as quickly as possible for a flat fee. We will take care of every step, from filing the petition to the final judgment of dissolution. Contact us today to quick start your California divorce and learn everything you need to know about the process, including how to get an inexpensive uncontested divorce without involving an attorney, and what to do if the process becomes contested.