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.
The winter quiet of December was broken by Mary L. Donaldson’s decision to file for the dissolution of her nearly five-decade-long marriage to Michael C. Donaldson. The petition, filed on December 30, 2024, in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, brought a conclusive end to a union that began on October 22, 1976. Represented by attorney Greg L. Roberts of Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C., Mary asserts that the marriage has been irretrievably broken, with no hope of preservation.
The Donaldsons, both retired and lifelong residents of St. Louis County, share a history marked by two children, now emancipated. While they lived together for decades in Wildwood, Missouri, their separation on November 8, 2024, marked the undeniable shift in their relationship. Mary’s petition reveals an intention to dissolve marital bonds equitably, with a request that each party retains their separate property and assumes their respective debts.
Notably, both Mary and Michael seek no maintenance from each other, underlining a mutual financial independence that has defined their lives in recent years. Further, each party has requested responsibility for their own legal costs, ensuring the dissolution proceeds without further contention.
This case, emerging at the close of 2024, paints a vivid contrast between the end of the year and the end of an era for a couple whose journey spanned decades. The story now unfolds in the courtroom, where Mary’s prayers for resolution await judicial consideration.
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