Robin Wright Penn has finally gone and done it. She filed for divorce from Sean Penn on Aug. 12. For those of you who love a lengthy, ruthless court battle between two famous people who are insanely rich, like the show we got out of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, you are in for a disappointment.

Yes, Robin Wright Penn and Sean Penn have tons of money. Sean Penn has won two Oscars out of his five nominations, and Robin Wright Penn was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the extremely lucrative “Forrest Gump.” However, court papers say the couple has already decided how they will split up their assets, so they won’t be spending their cash now on lawyers. They’ve also agreed to share custody of their 16-year-old son, Hopper Jack.

A long relationship

Robin Wright Penn and Sean Penn first started dating in 1989. After seven years and two kids together, the couple got married in 1996. Now, after a couple of false alarms, Robin Wright Penn says their marriage is over forever. Sean Penn filed for separation in May but withdrew it. The tabloids also reported in 2007 that the couple was divorcing.

Robin Wright Penn and Sean Penn also have an 18-year-old daughter together, Dylan Frances. It appears that after 20 years together, this really is the end. Robin Wright Penn said:

“I hit that crossroad a while ago—for Robin, the ‘I know what I don’t want’ [sign] was flashing neon lights. I have no regrets. I, we, have two amazing children we raised together.”

Will third time be the charm?

Robin Wright Penn and Sean Penn’s marriage was the second for both of them Sean Penn was married to Madonna four years and they divorced the same year he began dating Robin Wright Penn, who was married to Dane Witherspoon from 1986 to 1988.

Perhaps after the stars are estranged they’ll finally find “the one.” Or maybe “the other one.” After all, 20 years is a very long time to be with someone.

Robin Wright Penn’s career

Robin Wright Penn’s breakout role was Buttercup on “The Princess Bride.” Since then she’s been in dozens of movies, including “Message in a Bottle,” “Unbreakable” and “White Oleander.” Her role as Jenny in “Forrest Gump” earned her much acclaim and reinvigorated he fame she achieved with “The Princess Bride.”

She has also produced a couple of films, “Virgin” and “Hounddog.” Currently, Robin Wright Penn is rumored to be playing a role in “Hectic,” a movie planned for release next year.

Sean Penn’s career

Sean Penn has been in a wide range of films, including “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Bad Boys,” “Cool Blue,” “The Game,” “The Thin Red Line,” “I Am Sam” and countless indie flicks.

He won his recent Oscar for his portrayal of Harvey Milk in “Milk,” and he has produced and directed a handful of films.

Pre-nuptial marriage agreements make sense for some people, depending upon the assets involved. A post-nuptial works in almost the same way. In either case, a contract is formed so that parties can amicably divide property in the event of a divorce.

When you’re rolling in money the way former United Technologies chairman George David is, such agreements are advisable. He entered into a post-nuptial agreement with his beautiful bride, the Swedish countess Marie Douglas-David, 36. The agreement stipulates that she will receive $43 million upon divorce. Now that they’re actually splitting up, the unemployed socialite Ms. Douglas figures she can sashay her way into more. $43 million isn’t enough for someone as pretty and titled as she, apparently. She wants a bigger cash advance.

Poor little rich girl!

Bat your eyelashes all you want, Swede. Just because your husband has more money doesn’t mean you’re entitled to it… you made an agreement. Despite whatever powers you may have as a woman, principle must stand. Mr. David, 67, has a spine and he intends to use it.

Women on the Web (WoWoWoW) gives us the skinny. George David is worth an estimated $300 million. Perhaps she thinks she should get half? That doesn’t seem out of the ordinary for some divorces, but there was a legal agreement in this case. Marie Douglas-David apparently thinks wiles outweigh law.

Not without my mink underthings!

According to the Hartford Courant and New York Post, the mud is already flying from both sides. Anne Dranginis, who represents David, claims her client is constantly “ridiculed” and “berated” from his wife. Bill Beslow on Ms. Douglas’s side says the husband controls her and pushed the former investment banker to quit her job. Accusations of affairs have flown on both sides. WoWoWoW points out that Douglas-David made sure to wear $225,000 Harry Winston earrings given her by George to court. She clearly needs so much more to make it day to day!

So why isn’t $43 million enough for Marie Douglas-David? She and her husband know how to spend. And spend. And spend. Ms. Douglas goes through $53,000 a week, while David throws down more than $200,000. Viola!

This is a divorce case for the ages. WoWoWoW thinks that divorce lawyer to the stars Robert Cohen would be salivating at the chance to litigate. I say that an agreement is an agreement. Ms. Douglas, you may look like a queen and have certain lifestyle habits, put please don’t insult the rest of the world by saying that you can’t live on $43 million. You shame Sweden, royalty and women everywhere with your avarice.

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First things First

A divorce can get the best of everyone when it comes to your patience and money. Generally both parties want to get it done as fast as they can, and with their fair share of the assets. This can sometimes become an all out battle, especially when it comes to the finances. So, the first thing to do is to write everything down that is community property or assets, and make sure if the two of you cannot do this together to bring in a mediator to help both of you to do this. You also will want to make sure that there are no hidden assets that someone has stowed away and tried to hide from anyone.

Bringing in Help

Once you have all of the community property or assets listed comes the part where most couples need attorneys to help them out with. This is when most people either gain financial freedom or become so bogged down with debt that the only way they can get food in their mouth is to get a payday loan. It’s very important, before you even file for divorce or as soon as you get served papers is to immediately take your name off of joint accounts so that there is no more debt accumulated in your name. Once you have done this, it is a matter of who wants ownership of what and how the divisions of assets will occur. This is different, of course, if you have children where decisions need to be made of who the primary caregiver will be.

Done and over, Moving On

After everything is divided in a manner that works for both of the parties, then comes the part that can make or break someone. Making sure you know how to invest your money and making a budget so that you know you will be financially sound in the future will be important steps. This will help you see what you can financially afford and what you may have to cut out of your life. It’s especially hard to determine what is a necessity and what is not. When in this process, you may want to double check that all of your retirement and life insurance policies have been switched out of your ex’s name.

Freedom

After all is said and done, the divorce is final and you are bringing yourself along onto the right financial path, feel free to do as you wish within your means. If you do reach a rough path and do not have the funds when a financial emergency arises, try a payday loan to get back on the path to your new life.

"Marriage is more than just a perfect picture"

You can probably remember your first date, your first kiss, the way he proposed, and the wedding vows, but you never imagined that installment loans would help your marriage. Before people get married, they paint a pretty picture of what they want their future to look like together. Sometimes that picture doesn’t turn out quite how you had thought it would. While it’s important to have goals and dreams as a couple, it’s also essential to maintain a sensible perspective on reality. And the reality is that fifty to sixty percent of marriages end in divorce, and the number one reason for divorce is money.

Different Backgrounds

There are a few reasons money causes so much conflict in marriages. One reason is that many people learn their money management skills from their parents, and different backgrounds mean different ways of thinking about money. If one spouse was taught to save and conserve and the other was taught that spending money on a whim is acceptable, chances are there will be disagreements on how to treat money. Even if both spouses were taught the same tendencies, the way they save or the way they spend will still be different based on their priorities.

Different Priorities

Often times, when people get married, they have similar priorities and aspirations. However, that does not mean all their priorities are the same, especially in regards to money. By nature, men and women have different priorities, and by nature, men and women view money differently. Men equate money with success and tend to take more risks than women. Therefore, men fail to plan and save for emergencies. Women see money as security, and are more inclined to save for unexpected events. In addition, men and women have different problem solving skills, so when there are money problems, the solution is rarely unanimous.

Talk About It

Your spouse is your partner, and you both need to be involved with the financial decisions. Chances are, one of you takes responsibility for paying the bills and making sure everything is in order, but that doesn’t mean that the other spouse should be completely excluded from money discussions. Working together on creating a budget and making financial decisions can be difficult due to the differences in background and priorities, but it is necessary. Being open with each other about your finances will help your marriage run more smoothly, even if you disagree on certain things. It’s okay to disagree, and being straight forward with each other will make it easier to compromise because you understand where the other person is coming from.

Happily Ever After

Married life is probably much different than you ever pictured, and the financial struggles are likely much more difficult than you ever imagined. Perhaps you’ve realized why some people decide to call it quits on behalf of money fights. Money management is a never-ending issue, but talking about it with your spouse can save you the heartbreak of divorce. Knowing how much both individuals are making and spending is imperative. When you are aware that as a couple you’re spending more than you’re making, you can make a joint decision to cut back on spending and to get installment loans to help you both through until the next payday. Installment loans can help your budget and your marriage to up your chances of living happily ever after.