Latest News 2014 February Former New York Governor Divorces Wife

Former New York Governor Divorces Wife

After standing beside her husband for 26 years, including during his 2008 resignation as the governor of New York amidst the news of his prostitution scandal, Silda Wall and Eliot Spitzer have filed for divorce, as reported by the New York Daily News, the Long Island Newsday and several other media outlets.

The divorce is listed as Anonymous vs. Anonymous in Manhattan Supreme Court, according to reporters, and the only public statement that was made by Spitzer's spokeswoman Lisa Linden read, "All issues between us have been resolved and are uncontested." However, the petition was marked as "contested" on the court docket. The case has been assigned to Judge Laura Drager.

Calls by reporters to the attorneys for both Wall and Spitzer were not returned.

Though the details of the divorce are yet to be released it is expected to be an expensive one. Wall heads up an equity firm and has a personal net worth of $50 million.

Spitzer's family is rumored by analysts to own as much as $1 billion in real estate assets.

Spitzer and Wall had been living in a Fifth Avenue apartment – in a building owned by Spitzer's father. The couple also owns a $4 million estate located in Pine Plains.

Tax returns from 2011 and 2012 show that Spitzer earned $350,000 from Spitzer Engineering, $5 million in rent from his real estate holdings, trusts, and partnership income, and $2 million for his short time working on CNN.

It has been almost six years since the couple made headlines when Spitzer, 54, resigned as New York's governor after being caught patronizing prostitutes. Wall stalwartly remained at his side during the upheaval. The couple made the announcement of their marriage ending on Christmas Eve, "We regret that our marital relationship has come to an end and we have agreed not to make any other public statement on this subject."


On the next day Spitzer was seen with new girlfriend Lis Smith, visiting her parents in Bronxville. The Daily News had released the information that Spitzer and Smith were romantically involved days before the divorce announcement. Smith works on the transition team for Mayor de Blasio.

Spitzer and Wall met at Harvard Law School and married in 1987. The couple have raised three adult daughters together. Over the years rumors of their separation were suppressed as Spitzer maintained that they were still a couple. Last July Spitzer ran for controller, however, Wall did not attend any of his campaign events and he failed to receive the position. A source close to Spitzer eventually told the press that the pair had, indeed, separated.

Raoul Felder, a veteran divorce lawyer that is not connected to either party, commented, "What's there to fight over? He has nothing but money and they want to get on with their lives."

If you are filing for divorce contact a family law attorney to work out the separation of your assets and any child custody issues. Only a family law attorney is experienced in such matters.

Categories: Divorce, Family Law

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