Summer House stars Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula are divorcing in New York without a prenuptial agreement, exposing a central question: who bears responsibility for the estimated $4 million in debt tied to Cooke's Loverboy beverage company? Under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B), New York courts apply equitable distribution to marital property and debts, meaning Batula could be on the hook for business liabilities accumulated during their marriage, regardless of whose name is on the paperwork.
| Key Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| What happened | Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula announced their divorce in March 2026 after approximately 3 years of marriage |
| No prenup | The couple confirmed they never signed a prenuptial agreement before their October 2021 wedding |
| Business debt | Cooke's Loverboy beverage brand reportedly carries approximately $4 million in debt |
| Infidelity allegations | Batula alleges "protected cheating" by Cooke, which he denies |
| Governing law | N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B) — equitable distribution of marital property and debts |
| Impact | Case illustrates how business debts incurred during marriage become marital obligations subject to division |
No Prenup Means New York Courts Decide Everything
Without a prenuptial agreement, Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula handed full control of their financial split to a New York judge. Under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(5), courts divide marital property using equitable distribution, which does not mean 50/50. Instead, the court weighs 13 statutory factors including each spouse's income, the duration of the marriage, and whether either party wasted marital assets.
New York courts distinguish between separate property (assets owned before marriage or received as gifts or inheritance) and marital property (everything acquired during the marriage). As reported by Bravo TV, Amanda stated she is distancing herself from the Loverboy debt. But under New York law, that distance may be harder to achieve than a reality TV confessional suggests.
The couple married in October 2021. Any Loverboy debt incurred after that date is presumptively marital debt. Even if Amanda never signed a loan document or managed the company's books, the timing of the debt matters more than whose signature appears on the paperwork. New York Family Court precedent treats debts accumulated during marriage as shared obligations unless the non-debtor spouse can prove the debt was entirely separate.
How New York Handles Business Debt in Divorce
New York courts apply a straightforward test to business debts: if the debt was incurred during the marriage and benefited the marital partnership, it is subject to equitable distribution. The Loverboy situation fits squarely within this framework because the company operated throughout the Cooke-Batula marriage, and both spouses appeared on the show promoting the brand.
Under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(5)(d), courts consider each party's contribution to the acquisition of marital property, including contributions as a homemaker and the career-building support one spouse provided the other. Amanda Batula served in a marketing role at Loverboy and promoted the brand extensively on Summer House, which aired for over 8 seasons on Bravo. That involvement cuts both ways: it may strengthen her claim to business equity but also tie her more closely to business liabilities.
New York courts in cases like Mahoney-Buntzman v. Buntzman (2003) have held that the appreciation of a business during marriage is marital property. If Loverboy has any positive value despite its debt load, Amanda could claim a share of that value. Conversely, if the company is underwater by $4 million, a court could assign a portion of that deficit to Amanda as part of an equitable distribution award.
The 13 equitable distribution factors under Section 236(B)(5)(d) include the liquid or non-liquid character of marital property, tax consequences, and any wasteful dissipation of assets. If either party spent marital funds recklessly, the court may adjust the split accordingly.
Infidelity Allegations and New York's No-Fault Framework
Amanda's allegations of "protected cheating" are emotionally significant but legally limited in New York. Since New York adopted no-fault divorce in 2010 under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170(7), either spouse can obtain a divorce by stating the relationship has been irretrievably broken for at least 6 months. Infidelity still exists as a fault ground under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170(4), but filing on fault grounds rarely changes the financial outcome.
New York courts have consistently held that marital misconduct, including adultery, is generally not a factor in equitable distribution unless the misconduct is so egregious that it "shocks the conscience." Standard infidelity does not meet that threshold. A court would not award Amanda a larger share of assets or assign Kyle more debt simply because of cheating allegations, particularly when Kyle denies the claims.
The practical takeaway is clear: infidelity may end a marriage, but in New York, it almost never changes who gets what.
Practical Takeaways
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Sign a prenup before the wedding, especially if either partner owns a business or carries significant debt. Under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(3), prenuptial agreements are enforceable in New York when properly executed with full financial disclosure. A prenup could have clearly separated Loverboy liabilities from Amanda's personal exposure.
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Understand that marital debt includes business debt. In New York, debts incurred by either spouse during the marriage are subject to equitable distribution. If your spouse starts a company, borrows $4 million, and the business fails, a court may assign you a portion of that debt even if you never signed a single loan agreement.
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Document your separate property from day one. Bank accounts, investment portfolios, and business interests that existed before the marriage are separate property under New York law, but only if you can trace them. Commingling separate funds with marital accounts destroys that protection.
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Brand involvement creates legal exposure. Amanda's visible role promoting Loverboy on national television undermines any argument that the business was entirely Kyle's venture. Spouses who actively participate in a partner's business, even informally, may find courts treating that business as a joint marital enterprise.
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Consult a family law attorney before making public statements during a divorce. Both Kyle and Amanda have made extensive media comments about their split. In New York, public statements can be introduced as evidence in financial proceedings and may complicate settlement negotiations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amanda Batula responsible for Kyle Cooke's Loverboy business debt under New York law?
Under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(5), business debts incurred during the marriage are subject to equitable distribution. Because Loverboy operated and accumulated approximately $4 million in debt during the Cooke-Batula marriage (October 2021 to March 2026), a New York court could assign Amanda a portion of that debt as part of the divorce settlement.
Does cheating affect divorce settlements in New York?
New York adopted no-fault divorce in 2010 under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170(7). Infidelity can still be cited as a fault ground, but courts rarely adjust property distribution based on adultery. Only misconduct that "shocks the conscience of the court" changes the financial outcome, and standard cheating allegations do not meet that bar.
Can you still get a prenup after marriage in New York?
Yes. New York recognizes postnuptial agreements under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(3). Couples who skipped a prenup can execute a postnuptial agreement at any time during the marriage. Both parties must make full financial disclosure, and each should have independent legal counsel for the agreement to withstand court scrutiny.
How does New York divide business assets in divorce without a prenup?
New York courts value the business as of the date of the divorce trial, including any appreciation during the marriage. Under equitable distribution, the non-owner spouse may receive 20% to 50% of the marital portion of the business value. Courts consider 13 statutory factors including each spouse's contributions, the marriage duration (approximately 4.5 years for Cooke-Batula), and the liquid or non-liquid nature of the asset.
What happens to business debt if the business fails during a divorce?
If a business like Loverboy fails and leaves only debt, New York courts still distribute that debt equitably under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B). The court examines who benefited from the borrowing, whether marital funds were used to service the debt, and each spouse's ability to pay. The non-owner spouse is not automatically shielded from business liabilities incurred during the marriage.
Amanda Batula told Page Six in March 2026 that she has "never been happier." Happiness aside, the legal realities of this divorce will take considerably longer to sort out than a Bravo reunion episode.
If you are going through a divorce in New York and have questions about business debts, prenuptial agreements, or equitable distribution, connect with an experienced family law attorney who can evaluate your specific 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.