When Chris Rock, P. Diddy, and Jane Fonda wanted a divorce, they knew who to call—John Mayoue, the Atlanta-based divorce attorney of the stars. “I get the opportunity to meet wonderful people at their worst,” he says. (Learn about the financial costs of infidelity here.)
His latest client? Former NBA star Allen Iverson’s ex-wife Tawanna Iverson. And she wants her ex to release the names of every woman he’s ever slept with to the court. Why? If he can afford multiple alleged mistresses, then he should be able to afford child support, which she claims he’s not paying.
While your infidelities might not make the national news (think: Anthony Weiner), here are Mayoue’s tips for how to steer clear of a marriage scandal:
Sign a pre-nup
Bring in a third party right away. “Do it in pre-marital counseling,” he says. Seventy-three percent of divorce attorneys saw an increase in prenuptial agreements between 2005 and 2010, according to a recent American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer study. “Pre-nups are for everyone now,” he says. Since half of marriages end in divorce, think of it as insurance.
Know the Law
“One of the vows of marriage is to be faithful,” Mayoue says. If you’re spending money on lavish gifts for your mistress, and not providing for your kids, that information becomes relevant in court. It can be used as evidence to prove that you can afford to pay for spousal support but you are choosing not to. (Find out the No. 1 reason cheating is bad.)
Privacy can go out the window
Elite.