Daughter of Kurt Cobain Looks to Shield Inheritance During Divorce

Frances Bean Cobain is going through a high-profile divorce from her husband of less than two years. Cobain is the daughter of former Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide in April 1994. After Kurt Cobain died, his entire estate was left to his daughter, who was just three years old at the time.

Now Frances Bean Cobain is looking to protect her massive inheritance – estimated to be worth approximately $450 million – from the division of assets in her divorce from Isaiah Silva. Silva is the lead singer for The Eeries, a Southern California rock band. The couple got married in June 2014 and broke up 21 months later, with Cobain citing “irreconcilable differences” in her divorce filing.

Although Cobain is reportedly open to the idea of paying spousal support to her ex-husband, she does not want him to gain access to any of the money and property she obtained from her father.

Equitable Distribution Divorce Laws

A major point of contention in the divorce is going to be the fact that Cobain and Silva did not sign a prenuptial agreement. The crucial questions now become:

1. What constitutes marital property in this case?
2. Does the lack of a prenup mean that Silva is entitled to a portion of Cobain’s inheritance money and property?

Cobain and Silva lived in California, so California law will apply in their divorce proceedings. Under CA divorce laws, equitable distribution rules the day. This means that any property acquired during the marriage will belong to the spouse who earned it, and divorce courts will typically try to divide the property in a “fair and equitable manner.” When it comes to property acquired through inheritance – even before the marriage – CA equitable distribution laws dictate that the property generally remains with the person who inherited it.

In New Jersey, divorce laws follow similar rules when it comes to equitable distribution and inheritances. This means that if you are about to get divorced and are looking to protect your inheritance, a knowledgeable divorce lawyer may be able to guide you through the process and help you avail yourself of the most favorable NJ divorce laws.

For more information about this divorce case, access the UInterview.com article, “Frances Bean Cobain Files for Divorce from Isaiah Silva, Hopes to Protect Inheritance.”

If you are considering filing for divorce, or have already started the divorce process, you should talk to a qualified family law attorney. The knowledgeable family law and divorce lawyers at Graziano & Flynn, P.C. have decades of combined experience helping people to navigate divorce courts in New Jersey. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation about your case.