August 13, 2007: Divorced... without children

Christina Applegate's divorce has been finalized.

by Jeffrey Cottrill

Actor Christina Applegate, best known for her role as Kelly Bundy on the '80s sitcom Married... with Children, is now officially single again. Los Angeles Superior Court finalized her divorce from Jonathan Schaech on Friday, August 10.

CelebTV.com reported that the court awarded Applegate, 35, more than $7.5 million, two of the couple’s residences, and their Lexus. Fellow actor Schaech, meanwhile, received more than $1.5 million, their Mercedes-Benz, and a cement Buddha that Applegate currently holds. They did not have children, and both of them waived the right to seek spousal support.

While there was no comment from either Ame Van Iden or Cindy Guagenti (Applegate’s and Schaech’s respective publicists), a spokesperson for the couple stated that the divorce was a mutual decision, according to E! News. The couple had separated in November 2005 after four years of marriage; Schaech filed for divorce on December 5, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences.

The couple had married in a quiet ceremony in Palm Springs in October, 2001.

Since playing the slow-witted Bundy daughter, Applegate has kept busy and gained some new respect as an actor. She won an Emmy in 2003 for a guest part on Friends and received a Tony nomination for her role in the 2005 Broadway production of Sweet Charity. She also starred in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and will play the title character in the upcoming ABC sitcom Samantha Who?.

Schaech, 36, has appeared in That Thing You Do and Sea of Dreams. He is slated to appear in a remake of the 1980 slasher hit Prom Night.

Divorce is rarely a pleasant experience, but the best way to do it is mutually -- as Applegate and Schaech appear to have done -- without spiraling into cycles of conflict and blame, or trying to "win" a better settlement than your spouse. Click here for tips on how to have a better divorce.

• How to Divorce as Friends
• Releasing Negativity
• The Money Trap

Tuesday, May 15
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Out With the Tragedy: Turning Divorce into a meaningful experience
with Allison Pescosolido and Andra Brosh, founders of Divorce Detox
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