California Family Law Blog

Actor Timothy Busfield’s wife has filed for divorce after nineteen years of marriage, according to the Associated Press. The parties have a sixteen year old son, and Busfield’s wife is seeking joint legal and physical custody.

News reports are citing irreconcilable differences as the grounds for the dissolution. In California, there are only two grounds on which to request a divorce: irreconcilable differences or incurable insanity. Mr. Busfield has thirty days from the date he is served with the petition to respond.

Ms. Busfield is seeking joint legal and physical custody of the parties minor child. In California, it is the policy of the courts to ensure minor children have frequent and continuing contact with both parents after dissolution or separation. It is also the policy in California to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities of child rearing. The court must consider the best interests of the child when deciding custody.

Other issues that are likely to present in Busfield’s case are property division, spousal and child support. Busfield has been in Hollywood for a long time, as an actor and as a director. Mr. Busfield won an Emmy for his time on thirtysomething. He was most recently seen on The West Wing and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. With such a long and profitable career, one can expect Mr. Busfield’s high earnings will be an issue when it comes to setting child and spousal support. The details have not yet been disclosed, but the parties likely have significant assets that will need to be addressed and divided, especially following a long-term marriage such as this.

If you are considering filing for divorce, or have already done so, our team of talented attorneys can answer any questions you may have. Many people have questions about the division of assets, child and spousal support, and various other aspects of divorce that they want answered before they proceed. We offer free phone and in person consultations, and we have offices in San Jose, Fremont and Monterey. We handle cases all over the Bay Area, and invite you to give us a call today.