Hugh Jackman, 56, and Deborra-Lee Furness, 69, officially divorced on June 12, 2026, in Suffolk County Supreme Court, ending a marriage that began in 1996. Furness filed the petition on May 27, 2026, roughly two and a half years after the couple announced their separation in September 2023, according to People via AOL. The case illustrates how New York's no-fault divorce law processes long marriages.
Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What happened | Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness finalized their divorce |
| When | Finalized June 12, 2026; petition filed May 27, 2026 |
| Where | Suffolk County Supreme Court, New York |
| Who's affected | Jackman (56), Furness (69); married 1996, separated Sept. 2023 |
| Key statute | N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170(7) (no-fault) |
| Impact | Demonstrates NY equitable distribution for a ~29-year marriage |
Why this matters legally
New York grants no-fault divorces under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170(7) when one spouse swears the marriage has been irretrievably broken for at least six months. Furness did not need to prove wrongdoing to dissolve a 29-year marriage. The roughly 16-day gap between her May 27, 2026 filing and the June 12, 2026 finalization signals an uncontested resolution—the couple almost certainly negotiated property division and any support terms before the petition reached the court.
New York was the last state to adopt no-fault divorce, passing it in 2010. Before that, spouses had to allege grounds like cruelty or abandonment. Today, a high-asset, long-duration marriage like this one can conclude quietly when both parties agree on terms, because the court need only confirm the statutory six-month breakdown and approve the settlement.
How New York law handles this
New York is an equitable distribution state under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(5). Marital property is divided fairly—not necessarily equally—based on factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and property, and contributions to the marriage. For a marriage spanning 1996 to 2023, courts weigh nearly three decades of accumulated assets, including earnings, real estate, and business interests acquired during the union.
New York separates marital property from separate property. Assets acquired before the 1996 marriage, plus individual gifts and inheritances, generally remain separate under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(1). However, the appreciation of separate property can become marital if the other spouse contributed to its growth. For long marriages, courts also consider whether one spouse sacrificed career opportunities—Furness, a producer and actress, paused her own career during the marriage, a factor New York judges weigh when dividing assets and awarding maintenance.
Spousal maintenance in New York follows statutory guidelines under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(6). For a marriage exceeding 20 years, the advisory durational schedule suggests maintenance lasting 35% to 50% of the marriage length, though courts retain discretion. A 29-year marriage could, under the guidelines, support a maintenance award measured in years—but spouses with comparable independent wealth often waive maintenance entirely in their settlement agreement.
Practical takeaways
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File only after you have negotiated terms if you want a fast, private divorce. The Jackman-Furness timeline—filing May 27, 2026, finalized June 12, 2026—reflects a fully negotiated settlement, not a contested fight.
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Understand the six-month rule. Under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170(7), you must attest the marriage has been irretrievably broken for at least six months before a no-fault judgment can be granted.
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Catalog marital versus separate property early. New York's equitable distribution under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(5) divides only marital property, so documenting pre-marriage assets matters.
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Run the maintenance formula. For marriages over 20 years, New York's advisory schedule under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(6) suggests durational maintenance of 35% to 50% of the marriage length.
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Consider a settlement agreement. Both spouses can waive statutory maintenance and customize property division, which is how most high-asset divorces stay out of trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
The details below answer common questions readers search after celebrity divorce news.
Conclusion
The Jackman-Furness divorce, finalized June 12, 2026, shows New York's no-fault system working as designed: a marriage of nearly three decades dissolved in roughly two weeks of court time because the spouses resolved their terms privately first. For New Yorkers, the lesson is that preparation—not litigation—produces the fastest, most dignified outcome.
If you are navigating a New York divorce, an exclusive family law attorney in your county can explain how equitable distribution and maintenance guidelines apply to your specific assets and circumstances.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.