Texas fans of spaghetti westerns are no doubt familiar with Clint Eastwood. His acting and directing career has spanned many decades. Now, the 83-year-old is set for a divorce after his second marriage has come to an end. His wife of 17 years, former TV news anchor Dina Ruiz, originally filed for separation but has now changed her mind and filed for divorce instead. Dina, 48, was married to the Hollywood legend for 17 years.
Ruiz and Eastwood met in 1993 when she interviewed the actor. They married in March 1996. Ruiz eventually left her TV career but recently starred in her own reality series, entitled “Mrs. Eastwood and Company.” Eastwood, a private person, was rarely shown on the series, and the show allegedly led to the couple’s breakup.
Ruiz filed for divorce in Carmel, California, on Oct. 22. Court documents cite the reason for ending the marriage as “irreconcilable differences.” She is seeking both joint and legal custody of the couple’s 16-year-old daughter. Although she and Eastwood have a prenuptial agreement, she is still seeking alimony and property rights.
Divorces can be complicated, especially when millions of dollars are at stake. Eastwood was wise to create a prenuptial agreement, especially since he already had one failed marriage under his belt. Although Ruiz is already making demands, what she will actually get will depend on the terms of the prenup. If she is entitled to property or alimony payments, that will likely be outlined in the agreement.
Those who are considering divorce should protect their legal rights. Even if there is a prenuptial agreement in place, there are many assets that an ex-spouse can be entitled to receive in a divorce settlement, including shares of a business or portions of an IRA, 401(k), retirement plan or other financial investments. In this case, because Ruiz was accustomed to a high standard of living, she will likely maintain that after the divorce.
Source: ABC News, “Dina Eastwood Files for Divorce From Clint Eastwood” Luchina Fisher, Oct. 24, 2013
