As Kanye West drags his feet in his ongoing divorce from Kim Kardashian, a judge granted an impatient Kardashian a December trial date Friday to finalize the former couple’s remaining financial and custody issues.
Kardashian, 41, and West, 45, were declared legally single at a hearing back in March, but they still haven’t reached a settlement — or been give final court orders — related to their vast wealth and four kids: North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3.
“We’ve been ready for quite a while,” Kardashian’s lawyer Laura Wasser told Los Angeles County Judge Steve Cochran. Wasser responded that she wanted her trial date for Skims founder this year or next. “This year, your honor. I actually have a stipulated judgment drafted. I’m just trying to get someone to pay attention to me,”She spoke to the court.
“The parties are getting along, and they are communicating, but where we are right now is, from (Kardashian’s) perspective, we would like to get Mr. West’s declaration of disclosure and close the case,” Wasser said. She added that her client filed her preliminary financial disclosures way back in November, but West’s remain outstanding.
The judge scheduled a two-day trial that would begin Dec. 14th. If the former couple need more time to call witnesses and give evidence, the case will be sent to a new courtroom.
Because Judge Cochran dismissed his former lawyer Samantha Spector during Friday’s hearing, West is effectively without representation. Spector represented West at March’s hearing, but requested relief in May due to a breakdown in communication.
Wasser was asked by the judge. “invite”West will respond in the case no later than Sept. 30. If he doesn’t, the trial is still expected to go forward, with Kardashian likely getting whatever orders she requests. At the moment, there are no formal orders related to custody of the couple’s children.
“We’d like the parties to try to settle the case and arrive at a stipulated judgment, if possible, and then be ready to have a trial on unresolved matters,” Judge Cochran said Friday.
After West acknowledged that West and West had been together for some time, the case was streamlined. “valid and enforceable”Wasser explained that they had a prenuptial agreement which kept all their debts and property separate.
After many years of dating, Kardashian and West were finally married in 2014. Their star power combined pushed them into the top of celebrity wealth and fame, but their relationship has faced many challenges. After West ran an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. presidential nomination in 2020 and made hurtful remarks about Kardashian on campaign trail, she stood by him online.
“He is a brilliant but complicated person who on top of the pressures of being an artist and a Black man, who experienced the painful loss of his mother, has to deal with the pressure and isolation that is heightened by his bi-polar disorder,”She shared the message in writing on Instagram. “Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words some times do not align with his intentions.”
According to reports, the couple tried counseling but Kardashian filed for divorce Feb. 19, 2021. She sought to bifurcate her case in order to become legally single before final orders.
“I very much desire to be divorced,”Kardashian signed a sworn declaration filed February 23. “I believe that the court terminating our marital status will help Kanye to accept that our marital relationship is over and to move forward on a better path which will assist us in peacefully co-parenting our children.”
She concluded: “While I wish our marriage would have succeeded, I have come to the realization that there is no way to repair our marriage. Kanye does not agree but at least it appears that he has come to the realization that I want to end our marriage, even if he does not.”
West initially fought the request for fast-tracked single status but eventually relented, leading the judge to grant Kardashian’s request. In the month’s leading up to the decision, West alternated between criticizing Kardashian and her new boyfriend, Saturday Night LivePete Davidson stars and begs for reconciliation
After the decision was made, West posted a new video to Instagram hours later. “Eazy.”In this black-and white clip, a claymation West throws a bag on top of a character resembling Davidson and drags him behind a motorbike until he is buried up to his neck. West can also be seen carrying a head decapitated while rapping.
“Everyone Lived Happily Ever After/Except You Know Who/JK He’s Fine,”The three title cards are read at each end. The first card starts with the words. “Except Skete,”But then, the name “Skete”is crossed out. (Skete was the name West used to refer to Davidson.