Disclaimer: All facts gleaned from the filings stated hereafter are only as truthful as the petitioner. The tone of this article expresses a style of writing historically employed by America’s greatest writers and, as such, is for opinion purposes only. No intentional harm is due. Do not read if the topic of divorce (even your own) causes you emotional distress. Continue at your own risk.
In the heart of St. Louis, a marriage long dormant finally faces its inevitable end. Bernadette Banks, with the aid of her attorney John Malec of Malec & Leopold P.C., has stepped into the courtroom seeking dissolution of her marriage to Frederick Cornelius Shepherd. This union, forged on October 9, 1998, in the bustling city of St. Louis, unraveled almost immediately, with the couple ceasing to live as husband and wife by November 1, 1998.
For over two decades, the remnants of this marriage lingered in legal limbo, with no children born or adopted during its brief course. Bernadette, a steadfast resident of St. Louis, contends that the marriage is beyond repair, irretrievably broken, and seeks the court’s intervention to formalize their separation.
Frederick, residing in Ford Heights, Illinois, and currently unemployed, stands on the other side of this long-drawn saga. The petition underscores that both parties have been residents of their respective states for over ninety days, meeting the jurisdictional requirements for this legal proceeding.
Bernadette’s plea is straightforward: a fair and equitable distribution of the scant marital property and debts, with each party retaining possession of their current assets. She argues that neither she nor Frederick requires maintenance from the other, reflecting their long period of independence.
This legal move aims to finally put to rest a union that has been functionally dead for nearly as long as it existed. The court is called upon to dissolve this marriage, divide the marital assets equitably, and allow both parties to move forward unencumbered by the past.
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