Most recently, model Linda Evangelista and her one-time boyfriend, billionaire businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, came to an agreement on payments for their 5-year-old son. While the settlement was not announced, Evangelista had testified in court documents that the care of their son cost about $46,000 a month, which included bodyguards and a round-the-clock nanny.

Singer Kelis was awarded $51,000 a month in late 2009 from her ex-husband, rapper Nas, to support her and their son.

The ex-wife of hockey goalie Martin Brodeur received her settlement in March 2009. Under the agreement, she will receive $500,000 a year in alimony until 2020, in addition to $132,000 in child support each year.

Music executive Russell Simmons agreed in February 2009 to pay $40,000 each month to support his daughters until each girl turns age 19 ½.

Pop star Britney Spears began paying Kevin Federline, her ex-husband, $20,000 each month in child support in July 2008. Together, they have two sons.

A judge ruled in 2005 that Rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs would send $19,000 each month to his former girlfriend to care for their son.

In what at the time was considered a large support order in 1999, billionaire businessman Ronald Perelman was ordered to send more than $12,000 a month to ex-wife Patricia Duff to support their daughter.

Source: Associated Press, "A look at celebrity child support payments" May 8, 2012

With so many assets tied into the divorce, both sides are clamoring for their fair shake when it comes to property division. However, it's not the fact that the two sides can't agree on who gets what in the case. Ivey's ex-wife has complained to the high court that she will not get a fair ruling in the divorce because Ivey, through the form of campaign donations, has influenced the judge presiding over the case. The divorce was granted to the couple in 2009 and Ivey made the donation in 2010. Ivey, who did not donate to any other Family Court judge, forked over $5,000 for the cause. Some of Ivey's lawyers even donated money to that same judge.

The state Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments to be presented in court in early June. The court stated that by hearing these arguments, it would allow them to assist in the process of resolving the case.

Ivey's ex-wife originally asked that the judge be disqualified from the proceedings, but a district judge shot down that request. In her latest petition to the court, Ivey claimed that the public should know that the judge might not be acting impartially. The legal team for Ivey's ex-wife is eager to make their arguments to the Supreme Court but know that it might not change anything. They are, however, happy that the high court is taking the matter seriously.

There are many underhanded tricks that can play out in these high-stakes divorces. Like Ivey's ex-wife, it is imperative to make sure that the proceedings remain impartial and fair.

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Supreme Court oral arguments in Ivey divorce case," Carri Greer Thevenot, April 26, 2012

If spouses do not adopt a prenuptial agreement before their marriage, it is certainly not too late to protect their fortune in case they run into divorce. A postnuptial agreement is very similar to a prenuptial agreement, only a postnuptial agreement is signed during a marriage instead of going into one.

Often times, significant assets are accumulated over the course of a marriage. When this is the case, a prenuptial agreement does not help. A prenuptial agreement only deals with the assets that each party owns heading into the union. A postnuptial agreement is a good way of addressing a newfound fortune and deciding its fate during the unforeseen circumstances of divorce.

Accumulating significant assets during a marriage can sometimes sprout stress and uncertainty within a couple. It can create an intense environment because both a husband and wife know that the stakes would be incredibly high during a divorce. This is why a postnuptial agreement can help clear the air among couples and let them decide right out of the gate how assets are to be dealt with during divorce.

The process of drafting a postnuptial agreement can be tedious and both sides need to have separate legal representation. The lawyers often confer with accountants or estate planning attorneys. Every corner of a couple's financial lives -- from a business and investments to debt and every day expenses -- is scrutinized in order to come up with a thorough and concise agreement.

Source: WMUR-TV Channel 9, "Is a postnuptial agreement right for you?" April 26, 2012

Retirement assets can be worth a fortune in many cases, therefore, a man or woman cannot afford to hire a divorce attorney that is not knowledgeable in dealing with them. This is the case with a number of divorce lawyers, even reputable ones, which makes seeking legal counsel during a divorce that much more important.

However, a Qualified Domestic Relationship Order does not work on every retirement plan, which is why these proceedings can get a little tricky. Some employers set up retirement plans that are, under no circumstances, allowed to be divided. Even obtaining a Qualified Domestic Relationship Order will do no good in these cases. In many states, these non-qualified retirement plans can stem from state or local government jobs. The state or local government simply refuses to pay out retirement assets to an employee's spouse. Many benefits plans are also non-qualified plans for a variety of reasons.

This is an important fact soon-to-be ex-husbands and wives need to know before striking a final divorce settlement. Some divorcing pairs come to an agreement that they will divide a non-dividable retirement plan up. Even after the divorce is finalized, they will sink a lot of money into trying to divide a plan that does not permit it.

Providing a divorce lawyer with detailed information about all retirement plans tied in with the divorce is a must to avoid these pitfalls.

Source: Huffington Post, "How to make sure your divorce lawyer does not screw up your retirement benefits," Emily W. McBurney, April 12, 2012

Couples need to brace for the worst and go about intelligently by protecting their assets in case of a divorce. It might seem unromantic, but it will pay off in the event the marriage does go south.

For starters, couples should think about keeping their pre-marital assets separate. Pre-martial assets are assets that a spouse already owns coming into a marriage. These assets must be kept completely separate from assets of the marriage. If they are intermingled, pre-marital assets could be subject to division in the event of divorce.

Husband and wives always need to be conscious of the debt being acquired within the marriage. No matter who accumulates the debt, both parties will be responsible for paying it off. If a husband or wife hides significant debt, and it comes time to divorce, the other may also be on the hook for paying it off.

Both prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are key tools in making sure you get a fair deal during a divorce. We often write about prenuptial agreements and how they decide the fate of all assets even before a divorce happens. However, this all changes when a couple has kids. Adopting a postnuptial agreement will revise the original plans and dictate how assets are dealt with if the couple divorces while their children are still minors.

Experts also say that a husband and wife should not allow for one lawyer to draft up divorce documents. They should invest the money in having another objective lawyer read it over.

Source: Huffington Post, "Divorce advice for those about to marry," Melissa Carter, April 10, 2012

If a business owner does not take the right steps in protecting assets, the business can be picked apart and divvied up. Since this business is likely the sole means of income for the business owner, they could be thrust into a period of financial hardship.

There are a number of measures men and women can take heading into a marriage to make sure their business is securely fastened in place, away from the grips of a potential divorce.

The first measure should be to brush up on the local laws in each state. Some states are considered a community property state, which means a business would be split down the middle in the event of a divorce.

Common law states, such as Massachusetts, allow each spouse to retain what they entered the marriage with. Knowing these laws means knowing the fate of a business in the event of a divorce.

Adopting a pre-nuptial agreement is a foolproof way of protecting a business and other assets from being picked apart by divorce. Known to sometimes sprout negative feelings, the benefits are truly worth the sometimes-awkward conversation.

Couples simply need to be honest with each other about how they feel mingling the business with a marriage. Protecting a business can be a joint effort, and not just left to the business owner.

Source: Reuters, "Want to protect your business in a divorce? Be Batman," Edward Tan, April 5, 2012

This is why these particular men and women have to look at their long-term financial picture when getting a divorce. When a divorce takes place while a man or woman is making a lot of money, alimony payments and the child support agreement are often based around this large figure. When the individual's income begins to slow down, and the man or woman did not set an adequate amount aside, they will not have enough money to make these important payments.

This might seem like a light sentence due to the fact that Rodman owes $808,935 in back child support for children that he had with his third wife. He also owes that same woman $51,441 in spousal support.

According to his attorney, Rodman is both broke and sick, although, she did not detail Rodman's ailments.

It is tough for many to feel sorry for the basketball star, as he has made substantial money during his time in the NBA, including a season with the Chicago Bulls where he took in just under $9 million. It is common knowledge that much of that money was allocated to fund his booze-fueled partying lifestyle that made him a controversial figure both on and off the court.

Source: Yahoo! Sports, "A 'broke' and 'sick' Dennis Rodman is way behind on his child support payments," Kelly Dwyer, March 27, 2012

Divorce lawyers have seen same-sex couples not only file for divorce, but also the break-up become incredibly messy and hostile in the process.

One divorce lawyer in particular suggests that same-sex couples who are both entering a legal marriage or even just a domestic partnership work out a prenuptial contract. While this lawyer has helped draft over 100 of these arrangements in the last five years, he still thinks they are being grossly under utilized. In fact, he estimated only around 20 percent of same-sex couples even consult lawyers about a prenuptial agreement before entering into a marriage or domestic partnership.

Just like heterosexual couples, bringing up the idea of a prenuptial agreement can be a killjoy to the relationship and cause some potential hostility. One woman who was in a relationship with another woman admitted that when her partner brought up the idea of a prenuptial agreement, it killed a lot of the romance in the relationship. She eventually came around to realize that a prenuptial agreement is actually a tool used to put both sides at ease. It is supposed to ease concerns about money and what will happen if the relationship falls apart so they can simply focus on loving each other.

Even though briefly dwelling on divorce does not seem like a proper step for a soon-to-be-married couple, it will ultimately achieve a world of good.

Source: The New York Times, "If 'forever' doesn't work out: The same-sex prenup," Louise Rafkin, March 23, 2012

A man and his wife were married for nine years. During the course of the relationship, they tried to have children but were not able to. They even went as far as to have their names put on a waiting list for donated eggs, which would be used for an in vitro fertilization treatment.

Using both donated eggs and sperm, the woman was able to give birth to twin girls. Despite the previous arrangement between the woman and man, the Massachusetts courts say the man is responsible to pay child support. The woman had requested child support in 2006, which eventually led to a 2009 court proceeding. Just recently, the Massachusetts Courts of Appeals upheld the decision.

The court of appeals agreed that by consenting to the treatment, the man was taking steps at creating life -- life that he would be legally responsible for. The court's ruling does not shock law experts in Massachusetts. In the state -- and many others for that matter -- when a child is born to a married couple, the child is considered a child to both parties. It's not as if husbands and wives of conventional marriages can decide whether or not they would like to be responsible for their children. It is an inherited responsibility.

Source: The Boston Globe, "Court says father owes support, despite deal," Peter Schworm, March 7, 2012

Like any other major civil movement, alimony reform in Massachusetts can be traced back to one man, whom many consider to be the catalyst behind the major changes. Back in 2006, this man was ordered to pay his ex-wife $865 a week in alimony for the rest of his life. Not only was this relatively unfair to begin with, but a judge did not ease up on this decision even when the man was on the brink of financial ruin.

This man created Mass Alimony Reform, which was a major player in sparking the movement toward alimony reform in Massachusetts. Lifetime alimony was the primary beast this group was fighting against. Under the old laws, when a working woman marries an existing alimony payer, their money must also go to help pay making matters even worse.

These laws are relatively uniform throughout other states like Florida, Connecticut, New Jersey and Oregon. Residents in these states are following the man's lead and establishing groups like MAR.

Now in Massachusetts, alimony is fashioned liked child support, where amounts are based on factors like the length of the marriage or the income of both parties -- not just the husband's income. There is also more room for judicial discretion under the new laws. Only time will tell how the reform will play out in Massachusetts and also if it sparks a movement across the rest of the nation.

Source: The Huffington Post, "The new alimony laws in MA - And maybe FL, NJ, CT and OR?," Elizabeth Benedict, March 7, 2012

One particular case of alleged domestic violence has garnered significant attention as it is the first murder case witnessed in Massachusetts where the victim and suspect were same-sex spouses. The case, taking place in the small town of Granby, Massachusetts, is a stark reminder that domestic violence is dangerous no matter if spouses are gay or not.

Some gay advocates say that even though domestic violence occurs in same-sex households at the same rate it does in traditional ones, the issue is often suppressed. The gay community is so used to coping with hate and violence from opponents of their lifestyle, that many forget they also face these same issues within their own gay community.

Since this recent murder, which happened in 2010, a similar one cropped up in March of 2011. In that case, a 41-year-old man form Malden was accused of stabbing his 55-year-old husband to death.

Information from 2010 collected by the Centers for Disease Control stated that one in every four women have been the victim of severe physical violence by their intimate partner. The same was true for one in seven men. This study did not specify which men and women were gay, but most say that domestic violence occurs at the same rate within both demographics.

Because every state in the country has different policies on same-sex marriage and divorce, these processes can be tricky. Enlisting the help of a qualified divorce lawyer that knows the particular issues same-sex couples face in this process is paramount.

Source: The Boston Globe, "Gay spouse murder case puts focus on long-hidden problem," Bella English, Feb. 24, 2012

A wealthy man or woman about to lock themselves in marriage with their partner runs the risk of seeing their fortune ravaged. This is why couples need to sit down before they tie the knot and get an accurate financial picture of the relationship. In this planning stage, it is vital for couples to disclose accurate information about their financial lives, including debts, spending habits, etc.

It's important to get an idea on how your spouse handles money. This takes into account how many credit cards he or she has and whether or not they spend money based on a budget. If a couple does not discuss these things openly, a husband or wife is liable to go on an ill-advised shopping spree right when the honeymoon is over.

It is best for a future husband and wife to lay out financial responsibilities and expectations. This will determine everything from whether you want to share joint bank accounts to who is going to pay the bills.

Wealthy individuals can always turn to a pre-nuptial agreement for financial protection. A pre-nuptial agreement -- while not reserved solely for wealthy individuals -- protects assets that are coming into a marriage. Even if a spouse royally mishandles money, these assets remain free from harm.

Source: WTVM-TV Channel 9, "8 financial questions to ask before you say 'I do'," Andrew Housser, Feb. 21, 2012

If more couples would discuss their financial arrangements and even make prenuptial agreements before they marry or at least sign a cohabitation agreement, the process of getting divorced if the relationship does not work out could be less of a hassle.

A local TV news reporter quoted a financial advisor, Kristen Harad, as explaining the situation in this way, "The attitude of what's mine is mine, and what's yours is yours, now becomes, let's create our financial future."

This news story pointed out that married couples enjoy the benefits of aggregating their assets and wages. They can also share living expenses and reach goals that they might not be able to realize without a spouse.

Also according to the report, married couples can share a health plan, get cheaper car insurance, and open a spousal IRA. These issues must be resolved if the couple later decides to end the marriage.

Source: Boston.cbslocal.com, "Can marriage improve your finances?," Paula Ebben, Feb. 21, 2012