Shannen Doherty’s Ex Challenges Divorce Settlement 18 Months After Her Death

The ongoing legal saga involving the estate of the late Shannen Doherty has taken a complex turn nearly eighteen months after her passing. Her ex-husband, photographer Kurt Iswarienko, has filed a new motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court regarding their divorce settlement. This legal maneuver comes as a direct response to claims made by Doherty’s estate that he has failed to uphold his end of the agreement.

In documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, Iswarienko argues that the current legal proceedings have been brought in the improper venue. His filing contends that the court lacks the necessary authority to enforce the specific terms that Doherty’s estate is currently alleging he violated. This procedural challenge could significantly delay the resolution of the actress’s final affairs.

The conflict stems from a petition filed by Doherty’s estate in November, which accused Iswarienko of failing to fulfill several “monetary obligations” outlined in their settlement. That critical document was signed by Doherty on July 12, 2024, just one day before she succumbed to her long battle with cancer. Iswarienko finalized the agreement with his signature on July 13, the very day of her death.

According to the motion filed by the estate, which is being overseen by trustee Christopher Cortazzo, the photographer is out of compliance regarding significant assets. The estate specifically noted that the settlement included a provision requiring Iswarienko to sell the couple’s home in Dripping Springs, Texas. However, the filing alleges that he has yet to even list the property for sale, stalling the liquidation of assets.

Furthermore, the estate’s attorneys claim that Iswarienko is refusing to return various personal belongings to the estate. There is also a contentious dispute regarding a cache of photographs of Doherty that Iswarienko reportedly possesses. The estate asserts that he has failed to produce an inventory of these images or hand over copies as was previously agreed upon.

In his Wednesday rebuttal, Iswarienko takes aim at the trustee’s standing in the case. He contends that Cortazzo has “failed to show he has authority under the trust” to demand compliance with the settlement’s terms in this specific legal context. By challenging the jurisdiction and the trustee’s authority, Iswarienko is effectively putting a halt to the estate’s attempts to collect on the agreed-upon assets.

The dissolution of their marriage was already fraught with tension long before these posthumous legal battles began. Doherty and Iswarienko were married for 11 years before the actress filed for divorce in 2023. The split was public and painful, with Doherty sharing heartbreaking details about the end of the relationship shortly before her death.

In a December 2023 episode of her podcast, Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty, she revealed that she discovered her husband’s infidelity right before a major medical procedure. She stated that she learned “that my husband had been carrying on an affair for two years” while she was preparing for surgery to remove a brain tumor. Although Iswarienko wanted to support her at the hospital, Doherty drew a hard line.

“I couldn’t go into that surgery with him there. I felt so betrayed,” she told her listeners at the time. This betrayal seemingly fueled the strict terms of the divorce settlement that is now the subject of intense litigation.

Before her passing, Shannen Doherty was a defining figure in American television, celebrated for her roles in some of the most iconic series of the 1990s. She first rose to international fame as Brenda Walsh in the teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210, a role that made her a household name. Her portrayal of the sharp-tongued but vulnerable teenager set the template for rigorous teen dramas for years to come.

She later found massive success again as Prue Halliwell in the supernatural series Charmed, where she starred alongside Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano. As the eldest of three witch sisters, she helped anchor a show that developed a cult following and remains popular in syndication.

Her podcast, Let’s Be Clear, became a primary focus in her final months, serving as a platform for her to control her own narrative. Through this medium, she reconnected with former colleagues and provided fans with candid updates on her cancer treatment. The podcast remains a testament to her resilience and her desire to remain transparent with her audience until the end.

Please tell us who you think is in the right regarding this complex estate battle in the comments.