Robert, Dianne Bentley divorce final: records show how couple will divvy up assets, alimony, Alabama football tickets
A judge on Tuesday signed a divorce decree for Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and former first lady Dianne Bentley, quietly concluding the couple’s 50-year marriage. Tuscaloosa Family Court Judge Philip Lisenby signed the decree a day after the Bentleys submitted an agreement to divide their financial assets and a month after Dianne Bentley filed for divorce saying their marriage had suffered an “irretrievable breakdown.” Dianne Bentley told the judge in a sworn statement unsealed Tuesday that the couple, both 72, had become incompatible, citing a difference in their preferred lifestyle. “During my marriage to my husband our likes, dislikes and lifestyles have become so different that it has caused discord and arguments in our home. We have become incompatible and our differences cannot be resolved,” Dianne Bentley said in the sworn testimony. “I know that we cannot live together again and that our separation is now permanent. I feel that a divorce is in the best interest of both us and our family,” she said. The court record did little to shed light on the specific differences that led to the marriage’s disintegration, but indicated that the governor disagreed with the contention that the marriage was beyond repair. The governor submitted a brief court response saying he agreed with some statements, such as that they have adult children, and the location of their residences. “Defendant denies each and every other allegation contained in said complaint,” Bentley wrote. However, the governor did not fight the divorce proceeding. The couple on Monday jointly submitted an agreement dividing their financial assets accumulated over their marriage and Bentley’s career as a dermatologist. Dianne Bentley will have possession of the couple’s two beach homes. The former first lady can reside at the couple’s Tuscaloosa home until the end of 2017, but Bentley will have title to the property. The governor will retain possession of the property that belonged to his family in Shelby County. Dianne Bentley will get ownership of the couple’s Fidelity investment account and half of the governor’s Individual Retirement Account. The agreement, like most divorces, spells out the minute details of dividing possessions. The former first lady will keep her jewelry and most household furnishings. The governor will keep his University of Alabama football tickets and all memorabilia from his time as governor. “The last four weeks have been a very difficult time for my family and for our state. The people of Alabama have prayed for us and have encouraged us. For that, I am extremely grateful,” Gov. Bentley said in a statement issued Monday after the divorce agreement was filed. A judge had initially sealed the divorce case at the request of couple, but multiple news media outlets filed a motion to have the case made public. Lisenby unsealed the sparse record on Tuesday at the couple’s request. When Bentley, a legislator from Tuscaloosa, launched what was then a longshot bid for governor in 2010, his wife said at the time she was not excited at the prospect of being a politician’s wife but grew to love visiting the state’s small towns. “I’m just a very shy person. I’m not comfortable out with people and crowds,” she said in an interview. The governor has said he had felt tired and “dying” as his medical career wound down, but felt a renewed purpose and energy with his election in 2010. “I believe in my heart I was placed here to do a job,” Bentley told his Cabinet last month. While the divorce filing said the Bentleys had been separated since January, the couple continued to travel together and made appearances at public events, according to public records. Dianne Bentley signed the divorce papers Aug. 26. On Aug. 28, the smiling couple made a joint appearance with college mascots at the Governor’s Mansion less than an hour after the divorce papers were stamped as filed. The couple met at the University of Alabama, when Bentley, a dermatologist, was in his first year of medical school. Dianne Bentley said during campaign interviews that she worked in medical labs for $325 a month to help put him through medical school. They have four adult sons, seven granddaughters and one grandson. The Bentleys marked their 50th wedding anniversary in July. The first couple, or their public relations staff, traded anniversary wishes via their official social media accounts, and the governor tweeted a photo from their wedding. “Today @FirstLadyDB and I celebrate another wonderful year of marriage. Happy Anniversary Dianne!” the governor wrote. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Gov. Robert Bentley agrees to divorce settlement, asks judge to unseal records
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and first lady Dianne Bentley have agreed to a divorce settlement, ending their 50-year marriage, the governor’s office said Monday. The settlement was filed Monday, just four weeks after the first lady filed for divorce, saying their marriage had suffered an “irretrievable breakdown.” The governor said he has asked a judge to unseal the case file so the public and media can see it. “The last four weeks have been a very difficult time for my family and for our state. The people of Alabama have prayed for us and have encouraged us. For that, I am extremely grateful,” Bentley said in a statement. “Today, Dianne and I have reached a mutual agreement in our proceedings. I have asked Judge Philip Lisenby to unseal settlement documents so the public and the media will have full access to it. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I am truly blessed and deeply honored to serve as your governor.” A judge sealed the divorce file from public view three days after it was filed at the request of the Bentley’s. Dianne Bentley, in her divorce filing, asked for possession of the couple’s homes in Tuscaloosa and Fort Morgan, alimony and a division of other assets. “Plaintiff states that there is such a complete incompatibility of temperament that the parties can no longer live together. That there exists a conflict of personalities which destroys the legitimate aims of matrimony and all possibilities of reconciliation are futile,” Dianne Bentley’s attorney L. Stephen Wright Jr. wrote in the Aug. 28 filing. While the divorce filing said the Bentleys had been separated since January, the couple continued to travel together and made appearances at public events. The Bentleys made a joint appearance in Montgomery with college mascots less than an hour after the divorce papers were stamped as filed. The couple met at the University of Alabama, when Bentley, a dermatologist, was in his first year of medical school. Dianne Bentley said during campaign interviews that she worked in medical labs for $325 a month to help put him through medical school. They have four adult sons, seven granddaughters and one grandson. When Bentley, a legislator from Tuscaloosa, launched his longshot bid for governor in 2010, his wife said at the time she was not excited at the prospect of being a politician’s wife, but grew to love visiting the state’s small towns. “I’m just a very shy person. I’m not comfortable out with people and crowds,” she said in an interview. She often drove him to his early campaign events because his campaign could not afford many paid staff members. The couple marked their 50th wedding anniversary in July. The first couple, or their public relations staff, traded anniversary well wishes via their official social media accounts. “Today @FirstLadyDB and I celebrate another wonderful year of marriage. Happy Anniversary Dianne!” the governor wrote as he tweeted a photo from their 1964 wedding. The divorce settlement caps what has been a trying year, both politically and personally, for Bentley. The Republican governor began his second term in January saying he was determined to lead more and demonstrate a more aggressive political style. Bentley spent much of the 2015 trying to convince lawmakers in his own party to raise taxes in the face of a budget shortfall. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Divorce a “Difficult time” for Governor Robert Bentley
Gov. Robert Bentley says his divorce is a private matter and thanked people for their prayers in what he described as a “difficult time.” The governor made his first public appearance Wednesday since First Lady Dianne Bentley filed papers last week to end their 50-year marriage. Bentley declined to comment further about the couple’s split after speaking to reporters following his speech to an economic development group. Bentley says it’s a “private matter that we’re working through.” Dianne Bentley filed for divorce Friday, saying their 50-year marriage had suffered an irretrievable breakdown. A judge on Monday sealed the divorce file from public view. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Judge seals Alabama governor’s divorce file from public view
A judge has ordered that Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley‘s divorce case be sealed from public view. Tuscaloosa Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hamner issued the order Monday after the couple’s attorneys jointly requested that the records be kept private. Lawyers told the judge that it would be in the best interest of both parties to keep the divorce records private. The request noted the governor’s position as a prominent public office holder. Dianne Bentley filed for divorce on Friday, saying the couple’s 50-year marriage had suffered an irretrievable breakdown. The divorce filing said the couple separated in January. Court records show that the governor is represented in the divorce by Birmingham attorney Lisa Lynn Woods. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
First Lady Dianne Bentley and Scholastic to donate 100 Books to Susan Moore Elementary School
Children in Blountsville are getting some new reading material, thanks to Alabama’s first lady Dianne Bentley. Bentley will add 100 books to the shelves of Susan Moore Elementary School library Thursday morning to as part of her literacy initiative through her ongoing partnership with Scholastic. As Alabama’s reading ambassador for Scholastic, Bentley annually selects five schools across the state to visit and gives 100 books to each school library, where she encourages students to read throughout the school year. While at Susan Moore, Bentley will spend time with fourth, fifth and sixth graders, reading her favorite book, Alabama Roadtrips: 52 Great Getaways, and answer student questions.
Women of Influence: Alabama’s First Lady Dianne Bentley
The most fitting woman for our inaugural Woman of Influence profiles is Alabama’s first lady Dianne Bentley. Watch out Tennessee: If our first lady has anything to do with it you won’t be the only Volunteer State. Assuming the role Jan.17, 2011, Bentley is the perfect role model to inspire Alabama women to find a local cause they can invest their time in to make a real difference in the lives of others. Long after Gov. Robert Bentley‘s term ends the first lady’s work to improve and bring attention to Alabama’s Domestic Violence Prevention and Family Justice Centers will continue to save and change lives. We don’t like to talk about it, but domestic violence affects men, women and children across Alabama and the nation. Dianne Bentley isn’t offering shallow photo op or bumper sticker solutions: She has pushed for real changes to the system, and she’s not doing it alone. Among her resources is former Florida first lady Columba Bush, well known and nationally recognized for her efforts in the Sunshine State to strengthen the system to protect victims and prevent violence. After visiting every shelter in the Alabama and talking to advocates, victims and professionals, Bentley said last month that she’s advocating domestic violence prevention legislation to strengthen Alabama’s system. According to her office, “The First Lady Dianne Bentley Domestic Violence Prevention Legislation aims to modernize domestic violence laws, increase state funds toward lifesaving services for victims and their children, and strengthen victim protection through law enforcement and judicial provisions.” Working with the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence Bentley is helping those who need it most. However, she’s not going to spend her time leading our state with only a singular initiative – no matter how large it is. Bentley is also working to bring attention to adoption and foster care issues. In her official biography, the Office of the First Lady tells about her and the governor’s children: “Two of their sons are adopted but they have been loved so long no one remembers which two.” The Bentleys have committed to ensuring every child in the state welfare system receives the same kind of love as their children. She has headlined events, discussed this important issue with the media, and has made it a focal point of her time as first lady. Every community, every woman, every man, every child deserve to be loved and cared for, and our first lady is providing the leadership to do it. So we salute you, first lady Dianne Bentley. Thank you for being a woman we all admire, a woman we can all emulate in bestowing the gift of our time and talents to tackle tough subjects. There’s is no one more appropriate to be Alabama Today’s first Woman of Influence. Victims of domestic violence can call the state’s hotline at (800) 650-6522 to receive information about the nearest available domestic violence shelter. More resources can be found on the website for the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
