Jurnee Smollett may be dragged into another legal battle with her estranged husband. The musician, Josiah Bell, recently asked the court to divide his ex-wife’s retirement pension equally. The request has intensified concerns about California State’s community property laws. Critics and fans have argued that Bell didn’t contribute to most of Smollett’s retirement funds. Therefore, he should not be entitled to half of it. Meanwhile, Smollett has not commented on this or made a move.
Jurnee Smollett’s Estranged Husband Asks For More Money
Jurnee Smollett’s estranged husband is back for more money; this time, he has his eyes on her retirement savings. He filed a claim requesting 50% of Smollett’s funds, including her SAG (Screen Actors Guild) pension and 401(k). Bell claims he is entitled to all the money the actress made between 2010 and 2019 when they divorced. In the meantime, the court has ordered the Lou actress’s plan administrator to comply with Bell’s request. It is not yet known whether Smollett will comply or fight this in court.
Meanwhile, Jurnee Smollett’s estranged husband is fighting for half of his ex’s retirement savings under the California community property laws. This law stipulates that all marital assets are to be divided equally in a divorce. If the court ruling holds, Jurnee Smollett’s estranged husband will receive a substantial amount. Smollett has accrued considerable money as she started working at an early age. She was a child actress who began contributing to her SAG pension when she was three.
Smollett’s Estranged Husband Earned A Huge Settlement
Much of people’s surprise comes from Jurnee Smollett’s estranged husband getting a huge settlement. Smollett paid the musician $1 million after their divorce, which was finalized in 2021. Moreover, since their separation in 2019, she has been paying Bell $7,000 monthly for child support and alimony. The former couple married in 2010 and share a son, Hunter Zion Bell. Smollett and her ex-husband didn’t have a prenup before getting married. They were friends for several years before tying the knot.
The Lovecraft Country actress talked about her marriage during a chat with The Hollywood Reporter in 2013, when they were still going strong. She said:
“We were best friends before we started even dating, so we had this really great foundation. I think one of the challenging things about any lasting relationship is that you have to be so vulnerable. I think as human beings we try to hide our flaws and try to present this perfect person, this person we wish we were to our spouse when that causes so many troubles.”
Meanwhile, the Temptation star’s supporters have questioned the fairness of letting Bell get money he didn’t contribute to. They pointed out that Smollett earned most of the money in her retirement savings before and after their marriage. Some legal experts have also highlighted situations where community property law is not enforced. They noted that the law could be waived if a spouse contributed to their retirement account before marriage.
Critics have called Jurnee Smollett’s estranged husband greedy for wanting more money despite the amount he already received. They argued that this, in addition to the monthly payments, is enough for him. Meanwhile, it is left to Smollett to decide if she wants to accede to her ex’s request or fight him in court.
#Clique, what do you think of Jurnee Smollett’s estranged husband’s move? Let us know in the comments.
