Country music star Trace Adkins has officially ended his decades-long divorce battle with ex-wife Rhonda.
According to court documents obtained by In contact, Trace was awarded $179,402.25 in attorney fees earlier this year, in addition to nearly $1 million previously awarded. The court cited Rhonda’s failure to respond to Trace’s request for fees as a factor in its May 2024 decision, which marked the end of the long-running legal dispute.
Trace’s attorney, Larry Hayes, confirmed the outlet’s findings, stating: “After ten years of contentious litigation in trial court and several appeals, Rhonda has exhausted all legal options.” Adkins divorce has now been officially resolved.”
The couple, who wed in 1997, split in March 2014 after 17 years of marriage, with Rhonda citing “irreconcilable differences” in her filing. They share three daughters.
Rhonda previously requested child support and alimony. In June 2015, Trace’s attorney revealed that the case had been resolved with private mediation. The settlement included all property issues as well as child custody. However, months later, Rhonda tried to have the agreement thrown out and they went to court in 2016.
In January 2017, the court issued a detailed ruling confirming the settlement agreement between Trace and his ex-wife Rhonda, officially declaring the two single. However, Rhonda challenged the decision, with the court noting that she “simply did not like the court’s ruling”.
Over several months, Rhonda filed multiple pleadings attempting to overturn the court’s findings, citing multiple reasons to disregard its conclusions. She also filed motions to vacate the court order and have the judge removed. The judge dismissed her claims, calling her accusations “disjointed and confusing” with no factual basis for denial. In June 2017, Rhonda brought her case to the Tennessee Supreme Court, but her motion was denied.
Rhonda continued her efforts to delay the proceedings, causing the court to comment on her repeated pursuit of the same issues. In 2018, Trace was awarded $533,000 in legal fees, a decision Rhonda unsuccessfully tried to reduce.
The legal battle persists in 2022, with a trail of claims for additional attorneys’ fees. He was awarded $399,681.73, with the court criticizing Rhonda’s credibility, citing inconsistent testimony and lack of truthfulness under oath. In total, Trace received $446,918.39 in fees and additional funds during that period.
By May 2024, Trace was awarded an additional $179,402.25 in attorney fees, bringing the total awarded to him since 2018 to $1,159,320.
Trace has since moved on with actress Victoria Pratt, whom he met on a movie set in 2013. The couple married in October 2019.
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