The Palin Divorce Saga
Todd Palin Calls It Quits
When Todd Palin decided to throw in the towel on his long-running marriage to Sarah Palin, it caught quite a few folks off guard. He officially filed for divorce on August 29, 2019, pointing to those famous words “incompatibility of temperament”. After three decades plus a year of marriage and a bustling household of five kids, you’d think they were rock-solid, so the announcement was a bit of a jaw-dropper.
Sarah Palin herself found the whole ordeal a real head-scratcher. It didn’t help matters when she discovered Todd’s plans through an email courtesy of his lawyer, which popped up just after they toasted their 31st anniversary. Talk about a rude awakening.
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
So, what pushed the Palins to their breaking point? That pesky “incompatibility of temperament” stood front and center. It’s basically legal speak for saying their differences ran deep enough to make living together a no-go.
Life in the limelight can test even the strongest bonds. Sarah’s political whirlwind and Todd’s risky hobbies and business pursuits likely didn’t do their marriage any favors. Raising a gaggle of kids under the watchful eyes of the public didn’t make it any easier either. All these factors, mixed with clashing views and dreams, likely nudged them toward calling it quits.
Their split shares a storyline similar to other headline-grabbing breakups, which you can explore through readings like rick and anne steves separated and rachel and bryan separated.
By taking a peek behind the curtain of public figure breakups, we can get a better feel for the pressures and twists of those high-stakes marriages.
Timeline of Events
Sarah and Todd Palin’s split marked the close of a long chapter in their lives. Here’s a rundown of what went down during their divorce.
Filing for Divorce
After 31 years together, Todd Palin decided to end things with Sarah by filing for divorce on September 5, 2019. He said they just couldn’t see eye-to-eye anymore. Sarah found out about it in a pretty modern way – through an email from Todd’s lawyer. Talk about a not-so-subtle surprise.
Finalization of Divorce
The gears of divorce turned quietly, and by March 23, 2020, it was official. A non-contested hearing wrapped things up, marking the official split. This all happened pretty swiftly for a divorce, taking about six months from start to finish.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Todd Palin Files for Divorce | September 5, 2019 |
| Divorce Finalized | March 23, 2020 |
Impact on the Family
The split rocked the Palin family. Sarah herself said it was “earth-shattering.” With five kids in the mix, they had to adjust their personal lives while still living in the spotlight. Keeping things civil, they opted for joint custody, which might’ve been their way to keep it as easy as possible for the kids.
This divorce adds another notable break-up to the celebrity list, kinda like Billy Ray and Tish or Shaq and his wife. Looking for more on celeb splits? Check out our takes on Shakira and Pique, or Rick and Anne Steves dividing up.
Custody and Asset Division
When Sarah and Todd Palin decided it was time to go their separate ways, sorting out custody and who gets what turned into a big deal. The couple wanted to make sure things ended fairly, especially for their youngest kid.
Working Together on Custody
Todd Palin aimed to get joint custody of their 12-year-old son, Trig, when they were going through the divorce process. The legal docs showed Todd wanted both of them to be responsible for making big decisions about Trig’s life. Interestingly, no child support was ordered, according to the court records (People).
| Custody Setup | What Todd Wanted |
|---|---|
| Joint Custody of Trig | Yes |
| Child Support Order | No |
To see how other famous folks dealt with similar situations, check out our pieces on vicki and donn separated and philip and claire separated.
Splitting Up Assets
Another biggie was who gets what when it came to their stuff. Todd wanted things split fairly, making sure both sides walked away with a fair share of what they’d built up together.
| What’s Up | Todd’s Ask |
|---|---|
| Splitting Assets | Equal |
Sorting out the nitty-gritty of who gets what can get real tricky, especially when everyone’s watching. For more stories on how stars have handled this, take a look at shaira and pique separated and rick fox and vanessa williams separated.
Taking a closer look at how things went down with the Palins, it’s clear they aimed for a smooth and fair split, both for their kid and their stuff. This mindful approach is pretty common in celebrity breakups, where making sure the kids are okay and dividing things fairly often takes center stage.
Life After Divorce
Sarah Palin’s New Relationship
After splitting up, Sarah Palin’s heart found a new rhythm with Ron Duguay, a retired New York Rangers player. Their romance came into the spotlight during Sarah’s lawsuit against The New York Times. Ron, who once tied the knot with supermodel Kim Alexis, has become quite the pillar of strength for Sarah. Even though Sarah and Todd Palin have parted ways, they keep showing up as a united duo at family gigs, like when their daughter Willow welcomed twin girls.
Todd Palin’s Post-Divorce Life
Todd Palin isn’t exactly twiddling his thumbs after the split. He’s got a new gal pal, confirmed by Sarah in a chat. Todd and Sarah, who met in high school and dashed to the altar in August 1988, share five kids. Trig, their youngest son, is still kicking around the house. Todd’s new adventure in love hasn’t pulled him away from family time.
Curious about other celebrity splits? Check out juicy reads like rick and anne steves separated and rick fox and vanessa williams separated.
Political Pursuits
Sarah Palin has been stirring things up with her lively political career. After splitting from Todd Palin, she’s still neck-deep in politics. Let’s take a closer look at what she’s been up to recently:
Sarah Palin’s Congressional Run
Sarah Palin threw her hat in the ring for the U.S. House seat in Alaska following the passing of Rep. Don Young, a long-time officeholder. She feels called to public service, wanting to respect and carry on Rep. Young’s work (People). Here’s what the election timeline looks like:
| Election | Date |
|---|---|
| Special Primary Election | June 11 |
| General Election | August 16 |
For more on celebrities jumping into politics, check out rick and anne steves separated.
Support from Ron Duguay
Ron Duguay has been by Sarah Palin’s side during her Congressional campaign. Duguay, rumored to have a romantic link with Palin, has been lending a hand with her yard work as she gears up for the campaign trail. His support seems to be a big deal in her personal and political life.
Sarah Palin is diving back into politics even as she deals with life after divorce. Her story shows how she’s juggling personal challenges with her public duties. For more tales on celebrity breakups, visit tori and dean separated.