Celebrity Divorce

Tony and soon-to-be-ex-wife #3 Lhotse Merriam released a statement to People.com saying, "We remain deeply committed and loving parents to our daughter, and out of respect for that responsibility we ask that people honor our family's privacy during this important time of transition."

Kelsey's lawyer, Lance Spiegel, and Camille's attorney Neal Hersh, told the judge this AM that they have reached a deal, so the judge can grant the final divorce now and issues of property and money will be resolved at a later date.

But there was a little snag. Neither party had signed the settlement papers, so the judge said she couldn't enter the divorce decree just yet.

The parties agreed to submit the signed settlement by Thursday. Sources tell us it will take a week or two after that for the decree to be entered.

So it's still possible for Kelsey to execute his plan ... to marry GF Kayte Walsh by the end of the month.

The couple married just a year ago, in January, 2010.

The divorce dealings between the two has clearly turned nuclear. According to Patti Heid, she and Cheech had worked out a deal for transferring property, but she decided not to sign. According to Heid, Cheech screamed, "F**k you, bitch. I'm taking you to court," then followed her onto her property.

In the docs, Heid claims Cheech "fractured my cheek, blackened my eye and violently choked me causing severe bruising on my neck and neck pain ... numbing of my arms and hands."

Heid also claims Cheech choked their son.

The judge rejected her claim for an immediate, temporary restraining order and set the matter for a hearing in two weeks.

And we've learned ... Eva's lawyer quietly filed papers Friday to dismiss the divorce petition she filed in L.A. County Superior Court.

Sources familiar with the case tell TMZ both sides agreed that Texas was the proper place for the divorce because that's where the prenup was signed.

TMZ broke the story about the dueling divorce petitions, but ultimately there was no conflict.

We're told all issues connected with the divorce have been resolved and it was done in a very amicable way.

The legal titans for both sides were in court this AM -- Neal Hersh for Camille and Lance Spiegel for Kelsey -- arguing over whether Kelsey is entitled to an immediate divorce decree, saving those pesky property issues for a later date.

The judge put the matter over until February 7. So if the judge grants the divorce on the 7th, Kelsey could still get married during the last 2 weeks of February -- which he wants.

But Hersh told the judge he's worried about Camille's cut of Kelsey's pension -- estimated at between $5 and $10 million. Even if the judge awards her a cut in the pension, Hersh is worried ... if Kelsey dies Kayte could go to the pension administrator as the grieving widow and lay claim to the proceeds.

It's unlikely Camille would lose her pension rights, but just in case Hersh wants Kelsey to cough up a $10 million bond to protect her.

To be continued on Feb. 7th.

The Dallas Cowboys legend released a statement earlier today saying, "This has been a difficult decision for Rhonda and me, but after 10 years of marriage we have decided to separate."

The statement continues, "We remain deeply committed to our children and respectfully ask that you honor our family’s privacy during this period of adjustment."

The couple has two minor daughters together ... and Rhonda has one child from a previous marriage.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Kelsey will not tie the knot before Valentine's Day, because he's doing his play, "La Cage Aux Folles," until February 13.

We're told Kelsey wants a few days to chill after his play ends, but he will marry Kayte Walsh before the end of February.

TMZ has learned Kelsey's lawyer filed legal docs claiming the actor has agreed to every condition Camille Grammer requested in order to get a divorce decree immediately, leaving the property settlement issues for another day -- every condition except one. Kelsey refuses to put up a $10 million bond intended to keep everyone honest while they negotiate the final settlement..

As TMZ first reported, Kelsey wants the divorce stat, so he can marry his girlfriend Kayte Walsh.

Camille's legal team claims -- whether Kelsey has agreed to Camille's conditions or not -- right now he can't actually meet her conditions and as a result the judge should not allow him to pull the plug on their marriage.

The final curtain on Strong's marriage to Tom Henri came down today, when Brenda cited "irreconcilable differences" on her divorce petition, filed in L.A. County Superior Court.

Strong and Henri, a yoga instructor, have been married since 1989. They have a teenage son.

Camille says in her declaration, Kelsey is trying to bifurcate the divorce (get a quick decree now and work out the property settlement later) "...solely for the reason that he intends to remarry as soon as possible."

Camille continues, "I don't believe this is a sufficient reason to prejudice my rights to the community estate."

In the docs, Camille also lists their assets -- including "multiple real estate properties" and more than 25 vehicles.

The rest of the declaration gets pretty technical, but the bottom line is this ... it looks like Camille's lawyers believe Kelsey's papers don't square with the legal requirements for a quick divorce decree.

Camille Grammer not-so-coyly told Howard Stern that Kelsey wasn't gay, but then strongly suggested he appeared in the cross-dressing "La Cage aux Folles" because he liked women's clothes.

Sources connected with "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" tell TMZ Camille has made the same claims to the cast after Kelsey dumped her.

Kelsey's rep, Stan Rosenfield, tells TMZ, "While it is not clear why Camille Grammer continues making public statements about her marriage to Kelsey, it is crystal clear that Kelsey will continue not responding, regardless of content."

TMZ has obtained documents from Bexar County, Texas ... showing Brent and Erin's 13-year-marriage legally came to an end on January 5.

According to the docs, Brent and Erin will share joint custody of their two minor children. As for holidays and other important annual events, the couple will alternate custody every year.

The docs show Brent and Erin signed a prenup before they tied the knot -- which will determine how they will divide their property. The terms of the prenup are confidential.

But get this, Erin was awarded child support through 2013 to the tune of $4,000 a month -- but agreed to stop taking Brent's money three years after she graduates from law school ... with the expectation she can provide for herself.

We've learned Kate's lawyers filed a Petition for Contempt of Custody Order last Thursday.

Sources connected with the case tell TMZ ... Kate believes Jon is squarely violating the judge's custody order -- prohibiting either of them from talking about the case -- by allegedly selling information about the case and tweeting his displeasure of the judge's various decisions.

We're told Kate is claiming Jon is willfully disobeying the orders, mostly to make a buck, and she wants the judge to modify the custody agreement to protect the kids from their alleged money-grubbing dad.

Sources connected with the case tell us the trigger for the hearing was TMZ's story the day before ... in which we reported Oksana claimed in her deposition earlier in the week that Mel beat her in order to get aroused during sex.

We're told Mel and his lawyers were outraged and accused Oksana's team of leaking the info. Mel's family lawyer, Stephen Kolodny, asked Judge Scott Gordon on Friday to take custody away from Oksana on grounds she acted maliciously -- not in the best interests of Lucia -- by allegedly leaking the story.

According to our sources, Kolodny also argued many of the allegations Oksana made during her deposition -- including the one reported on TMZ -- have never been made before and is a belated attempt to smear Mel and harm Lucia.

It all went down New Year's Eve at some dive bar in Jersey -- Bach belts out the best rendition of Journey's classic drunk song we've ever heard ... while some random chick tries to land a few sloppy pecks on his royal rock star face.

Sebastian and his wife Maria Bierk -- who were married since 1992 -- announced their impending divorce earlier in the day ... citing irreconcilable differences.