When a California couple decides to divorce after 10 or more years of marriage, it is not uncommon for complex issues to arise. If disagreements persist, things can get quite messy before a settlement is achieved. This appears to be the case for Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley. She filed for divorce after a decade of marriage to Michael Lockwood, a struggling musician who has stated that the situation has caused him to be homeless, and the two are battling over child custody and financial issues.
Lockwood said that he had to move into a hotel when he and Lisa Marie separated. From there, he said he basically went from house to house, sleeping on couches for at least two years. The court ordered Lockwood to pay $140,000 in legal fees to Presley. Lockwood says he was barely earning $2,500 a month working in factories and providing music lessons to people, and that he had to sell all of his music equipment to help cover divorce expenses.
Presley and Lockwood have each accused the other of illicit behavior. Presley told the court she discovered lewd photos of her children on their father’s computer. Lockwood, on the other hand, denied any wrongdoing and accused Presley of having a substance abuse problem. The court determined that there was not sufficient evidence on either side to further pursue those matters. A court date to resolve custody and support issues, as well as any other unsettled topic, has been set for July 2020.
Presley and Lockwood are the parents of twin daughters. It can take weeks of litigation to resolve child custody issues when parents are not in agreement. Hiring an experienced California family law attorney is typically the best way to go when the ultimate goal is to settle a divorce in as swift and economically feasible a fashion as possible.
