REAL Housewives of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley may have a legal fight on her hands after filing for divorce, as estranged husband PK may go after her Bravo money, a legal expert has predicted.
Dorit, 48, cited “irreconcilable differences” as the cause for their split in papers last week in Los Angeles.
4
4
She also asked for sole legal and physical custody of her two children with PK, 57, along with spousal support.
But after admitting on the show to arguing over finances, PK could turn the table and ask for a big chunk of change from Dorit, who is said to be worth tens of millions.
Attorney Ronald Richards, who has dealt with other RHOBH legal cases, but is not involved with this one, gave his opinion on the divorce.
Dorit is said to be earning around $100,000 per season from Bravo, along with large amounts from brand deals.
PK’s net worth is a bit of a mystery, as he’s worked in everything from talent management to real estate and is often based in London.
Ronald told The U.S. Sun, “I think Dorit’s salary is highly visible and PK has passive investments.
“If they are not produced, it may subject her to a spousal support award.
“Any housewives IP [intellectual property] is community property. If PK doesn’t have cash, Dorit could even have to pay for his attorney.”
MONEY WOES
But he feels Dorit will get child support as the kids will mostly be with her, and PK is unlikely to ask for more time as he’s often traveling for work.
“My view is Dorit knows where PK’s money is and will try to show his income,” Ronald suggested.
Asked about the timing of the filing, he claims it may have been “strategic” for Dorit to wait until after the ten-year mark had elapsed, and had little to do with PK being spotted kissing a new woman last week.
The British businessman was pictured in a passionate clinch with reality star Shana Wall, who appeared on The Amazing Race.
Dorit has not yet commented on the steamy makeout session.
“If a marriage is considered a long time, then the court retains jurisdiction to award spousal support forever and the cut-off is ten years,” Ronald said.
“There is a policy that spouses have to work and Dorit works so the court always has discretion to depart but these presumptions dramatically affect a divorce in California.”
It means she could go for maximum spousal support, or even lifetime payments, although it’s unclear if PK has much in the bank.
PK has a history of bankruptcy, including filing in 2012, in the UK.
The Wall Street Journal reported he had personal debts up to $50 million.
Dorit later claimed on the show she helped him through the situation and gambling debts, but PK insisted it was “well before” they met and that he has since “recovered from all of the things”.
He will have to disclose his earnings in divorce filings, including any money and investments he has in England, which The U.S. Sun understands could make the case more complex.
“They had many months where they were trying to reconcile so there is no legally clear separation date,” Ronald added.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to PK and Dorit for comment.
HOUSE BATTLE
Ronald also believes they may need to offload their Encino property – despite settling missed payments and having a lien slapped on it.
In November last year, The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed their estate was in pre-foreclosure after the couple missed “more than four months” of payments.
A notice of default for $298,556 for the property, which the couple moved into during the Summer of 2019, was filed on October 16, 2024.
However, property records obtained by The U.S. Sun show the default notice has since been rescinded for the $6.5 million mansion.
Dorit broke her silence on her housing woes when Andy Cohen questioned her about it at the season 14 RHOBH reunion.
She said, “Well, there are reports that it is in pre-foreclosure.
“I had no idea about it. [PK] told me that they changed the rate, he was trying to get ahold of somebody, no one was returning his calls — that’s the way he does business.
“Until they give him his call back, he’s not going to pay. He resolved it. Listen, they ended up calling. That’s what he said.”
Before filing for divorce, Dorit opened up about their tumultuous split as they co-parent Jagger, 11, and Phoenix, nine.
The couple tied the knot on March 7, 2015, and began a trial separation in September last year, during which Dorit hoped they would reconcile.
On RHOBH, she detailed an “angry” nine-page email PK had previously sent her which allegedly detailed money issues.
“It was predominantly financials,” she said in a confessional.
“His expectations were within a month or two that I will be responsible for the mortgage and all the bills associated with the house.”
During last season, PK had complained about having to downsize after moving out of their home.
“One of the significant issues in our marriage were your control issues,” PK told her during a one-on-one.
“And less than a few weeks in, you’re dictating where I’m gonna live. And that’s in the backdrop of me knowing that you’re in our house, and I’m taking this really small apartment, which was, in my life, as humble as it’s ever been. And it felt like an approval process that I didn’t want to go through.”
4
4