Saints Coach, Sean Payton, Files for Divorce after 20 Years of Marriage

Saints coach Sean Payton is having a tough off-season, in addition to a yearlong suspension he is now going through a divorce.

Payton was suspended from the NFL for a year in April for his participation in the Saints’ bounty system.

According to the Times-Picayune, Payton hired a divorce lawyer and filed for divorce from his wife of 20 years, Beth. He has already moved out of the Dallas-area home he shared with his wife and two children, one daughter and one son.

The divorce documents list the reason for divorce as “discord or conflict of personalities… that destroys the legitimate ends of the marriage relationship and prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation.”

Payton’s divorce petition originally asked for joint custody of the children and stated that he and his estranged wife planned to divide their assets out of court.

Beth Payton however filed a counter-claim requesting the right to remain custodian of their Dallas home and be given exclusive rights to make decisions about their children’s healthcare and education. She has also asked that Sean pay child support.

The couple’s divorce attorneys will not be meeting in court to hash out the final settlement. The couple stated they did not want a judge assigned to their case trial unless they agree to trial in writing.

Custody agreements are the primary concern for a large majority of divorcing couples, and for those, who wish to avoid protracted court battles; they can retain an accomplished divorce attorney to negotiate custody and support arrangements.