Melissa Etheridge, Ex Fighting Over Custody, Spousal Support

Celebrity News September 23, 2011 AT 2:01PM
Melissa Etheridge, Ex Fighting Over Custody, Spousal Support Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage.com; Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Ain't it heavy!

Melissa Etheridge and her longtime partner, Tammy Lynn Michaels, broke up in April 2010 after nine years together, but the duo are still battling over custody of their 4-year-old twins and how to divide the family's assets.

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According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Etheridge, 50, and Michaels, 36, are fighting over custody, child support, spousal support, visitation, division of property and attorney's fees. (Using an anonymous sperm donor, Michaels gave birth to her and Etheridge's twins -- son Miller and daughter Rose -- in October 2006.)

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According to the site, Etheridge and Michaels are even arguing over whether they were actually married. Michaels claims they were (which entitles her to more of the Grammy winner's assets) but Etheridge says the vows they exchanged in 2003 were nothing more than a non-binding commitment ceremony.

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In July 2010, Michaels blogged about being "blindsided" when her ex went to court to formally end their partnership. "I am wondering if it's an art gentle waves no noise for awhile or maybe gentle voices and SMACK!!!!! FILE FOR DIVORCE!" she wrote. "Even though we both promised, agreed, hand shook, pinky swore no filing until after tour in the fall. Her broken promises [are] told to me by headlines."

Tell Us What You Think

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  • September 24, 2011 - 4:35pm Maureen Tracy

    I stopped buying and listening to anything melissa has done since this started. She is is the epitome of the man who leaves his wife and children with nothing. She has been doing this for years and she now makes me sick

  • September 23, 2011 - 8:41pm Kimberly Paric

    You're wrong Melissa. Pay your child support and STHU! Tammy, get a job. You shouldn't receive spousal support. You're healthy enough to go to work, so do it!

  • September 23, 2011 - 6:56pm LaBella Donna

    Shocker! So you weren't married, Melissa? How convenient for you!

  • September 23, 2011 - 4:26pm Mark Jones

    I thik this why you have a portion of the population that have a problem with gay marriage...I have no problem gay marriage as long as we are all in the same boat the same crappy tax bracket and penalized the same way ...get over melissa pay her quit being a hypocrite !!!!

  • September 23, 2011 - 4:23pm Stefanie Trump-Ludwig

    Couldn't agree more with you guys! They were married/committed. Melissa, you should have had a prenup in place I suppose. Tammy should get and deserves her share. If Melissa wants to say they weren't legally married, I wonder how she'd feel if Tammy turned around and said Melissa didn't have any legal rights to the children since Tammy gave birth to them and Melissa (apparently-not that I could find) never legally adopted them?

  • September 23, 2011 - 3:49pm Sharon Bennett

    @Tamera i so agree with you so Melissa pay your wife what she deserve..don't try to even think this marriage you so wanted and have 2 kids is not even legal..It BS

  • September 23, 2011 - 3:43pm Michelle Williams

    If Melissa went to court to dissolve the relationship, then they were married for all intents and purposes. Really crappy of her to suddenly say "oh wait, it wasn't REALLY a wedding".....

  • September 23, 2011 - 3:33pm Barbara Codner

    What a mess.........

  • September 23, 2011 - 3:33pm Barbara Codner

    What a mess.........

  • September 23, 2011 - 3:31pm Danielle Lee Bree

    It's a Shame that this has happened. I REALLY thought that these 2 were in it for the Long Haul!! I'm hoping that They can BOTH take a Breath & remember that Their MAIN Focus should be Their Kids. You don't have to Love each other, Hell, You don't even have to LIKE each other. As Parents, They REALLY need to Suck it Up & make Their Number One Priority...THE KIDS!! Who knows..MAYBE..They can drop this Silliness & make things work. People need to remember, when You say "For BETTER or WORSE"..it's in there for a REASON!! It's NOT Easy all the time, My Thoughts & Prayers are with Them BOTH & the Their Family.

  • September 23, 2011 - 3:29pm Tamera Stankowski

    I find it funny that Melissa was such an advocate for same sex marriage until now when she realizes how much she'll have to pay her wife for a divorce!

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