Trigger warning: This article references death
Shannen Doherty was embroiled in a divorce battle with ex-husband Kurt Iswarienko during the final stages of her life, but the Beverly Hills, 90210 actress did her best to be declared legally single in her final moments. Doherty signed divorce papers to annul her marriage with Iswarienko on July 12, one day before her death on July 13.
He did his due diligence to co-sign on the day of Doherty’s death. However, with information from legal experts, People reports that Doherty was still technically married when she took her last breath.
Shannen Doherty died as a married woman – legal failure
Doherty originally filed for divorce from Iswarienko in April 2023. However, their divorce proceedings dragged on for nearly 15 months without any resolution. However, a day before her death, the Charmed actress signed the necessary paperwork to end her marriage with Iswarienko, a photographer she married in 2011, agreeing to a “default or uncontested dissolution” of their marriage, indicating that the two had settled their divorce out of court by mutual consent.
However, since Doherty died before a judge could officially sign a decree of marital dissolution, the divorce was technically not considered final at the time of her passing, meaning “she was still married at the time of her death,” according to an assessment made by California-based attorney David Esquibias for People magazine. According to the Associated Press, a family law judge signed off on Doherty and Iswarienko’s divorce papers two days after the actress’ death.
Both Iswarienko and Doherty ultimately gave up their right to spousal maintenance, which was the focus of their dispute last year.
According to legal experts, settling the divorce with Iswarienko before his death is a posthumous victory for Doherty because it will prevent her from challenging his estate. “(Doherty) fought the good fight,” family law attorney Ashley Silberfeld told People.
Also read: Was Shannen Doherty in debt before her death while battling cancer? What the report said
Shannen Doherty’s battle with cancer
Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She chronicled her battle with the disease on social media from then until her death last weekend. Doherty was given a remission from the disease in 2017, but her cancer returned in 2020 as stage 4 cancer.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after battling the disease for several years,” Doherty’s publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed in a media statement. She said the actress was surrounded by her loved ones when she passed away.
Also read: TNT honors Shannen Doherty with Best of Prue Charmed episode marathon after her death
