Jon & Kate Divorce Papers: Living 'Separate And Apart'

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Kate Gosselin says in divorce papers that her marriage to Jon is "irretrievably broken." The star of TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" filed for a no-fault divorce Monday in Montgomery County Court outside Philadelphia. She said in papers that she's willing to "negotiate a fair and reasonable" settlement with her husband of 10 years.

The divorce filing was obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. Lawyers for the couple said it contains boilerplate language common to all no-fault divorce petitions filed in Pennsylvania.

The series follows Jon and Kate Gosselin as they raise their eight young children, including 8-year-old twins and sextuplets who just turned 5.

Monday night's show, in which the couple announced their separation and divorce, drew a record audience of 10.6 million viewers.

Attorneys for both Jon and Kate Gosselin said Tuesday that the couple lived together on their Berks County compound until recently.

"They have been living 'separate and apart' just within the last week or two," said Jon's attorney, Charles Meyer, using a term from the divorce petition.

The court document does not explain what led to the split. But in a statement released to the media, Kate asserted that "Jon's activities" over the weekend had left her "no choice but to file legal procedures in order to protect myself and our children." She did not elaborate. Both Jon and Kate deny tabloid accusations that they cheated on each other.

"To be honest, I was hurt by Kate's statement about the divorce," Jon countered Tuesday in his own release. "I have always done everything I can to protect our family. This weekend, I was home with the kids for four days, just being a dad. No nannies, just the kids and me."

He added that while "emotions are running high for both of us right now," he hopes to "resolve things amicably."

The couple plan to spend equal time with their children at the $1.1 million house they moved into last year, with Kate staying elsewhere when he has custody and Jon making other living arrangements when it's her turn, according to the statement.

Kate's lawyer, Cheryl Young, said Tuesday that the couple has already started negotiating the terms of the divorce.

Comments

[Tugar]

LET'S SAY THEY ALL FORM A CLUB.... And call it.......

"OCTOMOM, MULTIPLES AND ASSORTED OTHERS" !

[Chlowina]

Will Jon have to pay child support???

[Tugar]

YES, AND BELIEVE ME IT SHOULD PUT AN END TO HIS "SOUTH OF FRANCE, RIVIERA VACATIONS !

[quest44]

IMHO I don't think its a good thing that TLC or any media should pay so much attention to these couples that have these huge families like Jon and Kate plus 8 and 18 children and counting . The main reason I say this is because our planet is already over populated and I don't think we should be rewarding couples for their irresponcability whether that is in using fertility drugs when you already have twins or not using birth control when you already have a large family . I think these media programs are causing people like Octimom to come out of the woodwork hoping tyo cash in on all these children .
Another thing is the constant media attention these children have had from the day they were born and how that could effect them in years to come .
I hope these children become these parents main focus from now on and that they do something to assure they come through this well adjusted.

[Ravishing Rae]

I do not believe that there is any fault in these two (jon & kate) having a large family. if fertility drugs were being used it was most likely because natural conception wasnt an option. In viewing the show I never once thought that thse parents put their children second to ANYTHING. what most people dont know is that the cameras were not in their home 24:7 but more like 3 times a week which leaves much time for these kids to develop what people consider "normally." In allowing TLC to tape their famiyl they ahve allowed for their children to do things that otherwise would have been finacially impossible. unfortuantely peopel get divorced. Whats worse is that the divorce will ahve an impact on the children involved in any family but to say that the planet is over populated as it is and that is justification for not ahving a large family. One of these children could cure AIDS for all we know. They were married and provided for their family as best that they could. its not as if they continued to ahve kids regardless of the struggles they endured and left their kids to raise themselves.

[Jsternsp]

Things must be really bad between them for them to split like this with so much to lose. I can't see th TLC series continuing much longer after this.

On the other hand, it could just be a scam. Big publicity when they split up, bigger publicity when they get back together?

[karmafacilitator]

Someone really ought to write a book that examines why people are so darn interested in this couple. A train wreck is always entertaining, but I think the reasons this story is so fascinating are more complex...a great sociological study.

[lydiajean]

Thank goodness this is over.

[berrycooda]

According to the tv news, they showed a teacher's brother who said that Jon was
spending the night with his sister.

He then said he was thinking about selling the bed they stayed in on e-bay.

He elaborated a little more about all the sounds coming from the bedroom and
if this is what Kate saw and read about, I don't blame her for filling for a divorce.
It reflects on her when her husband is so indiscreet for putting up with it.

[PunKinPai]

In my opinion, the brother sounds like a real class act....not. If fratricide were ever permissible, this would be it.

[martiniandabotoxchaser]

The kids are both of their golden ticket. Both will remain attentive parents until the show is over and then I suspect Kate will move with the kids...out of Allentown. Bet she goes to LA and tries her hand at a talk/advise show.

[pakaal]

What's the phrase I'm looking for? Oh yeah, now I remember.

"Who cares."

[PunKinPai]

So you clicked here, read the article and don't care. Hmmmm....

[Phenlandia]

It took a lot of effort, but I managed to make it all the way through their marriage without finding out who they are. I think I get a prize.

[PoliticalPsychic]

How about doing a reality show on them showing how painful and amazingly expensive divorce is?

I say let's turn the tables - in favor of the children:

They exploited their children for their own personal gain -- how about allowing the kids to exploit their parents divorce?

[CRA1]

As long as the parents shut up and go away it will be so much easier to turn the page.

[SaquaroSue]

Jon & Kate Plus Hate?

[lydiajean]

they have received everything from diapers to their new house free so far. Don't be surprised if they have a free ride for the divorce.

[JRsNana]

Does Kate have to give Jon his b*&ls back as part of the divorce settlement?

[Daffy4Ducks]

She will have them pickled and put in a jar for everyone to see lol

[clearthinker2008]

I just have to point out something, do you all realize that there are more men with tons of kids than women? Guys with 8 kids or more, how come we don't blast them? For example I personally know a guy with 10 kids. Spread out over 3 or 4 women. Men start a family, have a 3 or 4 kids with his wife, get tired of her finds someone younger, or prettier or both and does it all over again having another 3 or 4 kids. You all jump on bash wagons without even thinking because the tabloids leads you in the direction they want you to go.

Just think.

[PoliticalPsychic]

Those men don't have to live with - or even show love - to the kids of their former spouses.

I know - because my father was the type of person who'd have kids with every woman he was with -- then leave them in order to have more kids with someone else.

I never knew my father - I never saw him, never learned anything about him.

[Arch]

Good point.

[Jaskoen]

Those aren't fathers. Those are sperm donors.

[maxthecashier]

one thing i do have to say that's good in this situation is that the parents, not the kids, will be doing the moving around. based on my friends' experiences, I think one of the most traumatizing aspects of a divorce for the children is having to shuttle back and forth between the parents' homes.

[Michael Hacker]

So... let's do the math on this one...

Jon - Kate + 8 ÷ (who gives a crap?) = not me

[clearthinker2008]

You do, you read, you typed, you posted. lol