Court documents surfacing in mid-July 2026 revealed that 'Lost' actress Maggie Grace quietly ended her seven-year marriage to Two Bit Circus CEO Brent Bushnell in Washington, filing in May 2025 and finalizing on August 13, 2025. Neither party sought spousal support, and a premarital agreement plus a signed property settlement resolved everything — a textbook uncontested divorce under Washington's no-fault system.
According to TMZ, the split was finalized roughly three months after filing, with no support requested by either spouse. The case is a clean illustration of how a valid prenup can turn a potentially complex high-net-worth divorce into a short, low-conflict process. Below, I break down what Washington law actually requires — and what any Washington resident can learn from this filing.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| What happened | Maggie Grace and Brent Bushnell finalized an uncontested divorce |
| When filed / finalized | Filed May 2025; finalized August 13, 2025 |
| Where | Washington state |
| Who's affected | The couple; no children's custody dispute litigated |
| Key mechanism | Premarital (prenup) agreement + signed property settlement |
| Practical impact | No spousal support sought; ~3-month uncontested timeline |
Why this matters legally
A valid prenuptial agreement is the single most powerful tool for shortening and de-risking a divorce, and the Grace-Bushnell filing proves it. Because the couple had a premarital agreement plus a signed property settlement, there was nothing left for a Washington court to litigate — the judge's role narrowed to confirming the paperwork met statutory requirements and entering the decree.
Washington is a no-fault, community property state. Under Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.030, a court grants a dissolution when one spouse asserts the marriage is "irretrievably broken" — no proof of wrongdoing is required. That means neither Grace nor Bushnell had to allege fault, air grievances, or explain the breakdown. When the financial and parenting terms are already settled by contract, the only remaining question is procedural. Learn more about how no-fault divorce removes blame from the equation.
The roughly three-month turnaround is not luck. It reflects two variables working together: a mandatory waiting period plus zero contested issues. Remove the disputes, and a divorce compresses to the statutory minimum.
How Washington law handles this
Washington law makes prenuptial agreements enforceable, imposes a 90-day waiting period, and divides property under community property principles — all three shaped this outcome. Here is how each rule applied.
First, the waiting period. Under Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.030, a Washington court cannot finalize a dissolution until at least 90 days have passed from the date the petition is filed and served. A May 2025 filing finalizing on August 13, 2025 fits neatly just beyond that 90-day floor. This waiting period is a hard statutory minimum — even a fully agreed, uncontested divorce cannot beat it. You can map your own timeline with our Washington divorce timeline tool.
Second, prenuptial enforceability. Washington courts uphold premarital agreements when they are entered voluntarily, with fair disclosure of assets, and are not unconscionable — the standard articulated in Washington case law (In re Marriage of Matson) and consistent with the broader framework for marital agreements. A properly drafted prenup lets spouses opt out of the default community property split and pre-decide property division, which is exactly what appears to have happened here.
Third, property division. Absent a prenup, Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.080 directs Washington courts to divide all property — community and separate — in a manner that is "just and equitable," considering the nature of the property, the length of the marriage, and each spouse's economic circumstances. Note the nuance: Washington is a community property state, but its division standard is "just and equitable," not automatically 50/50. Understanding equitable distribution matters because a court has discretion — unless, as here, a valid agreement takes that discretion off the table.
Fourth, spousal support. Under Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.090, Washington courts may award maintenance based on factors including the length of the marriage, the standard of living, and each spouse's financial resources. Neither Grace nor Bushnell requested maintenance — a choice spouses are free to make, and one a prenup often locks in through a mutual waiver. When both parties waive support, the court has nothing to calculate.
Practical takeaways
Washington residents can extract concrete lessons from this filing, whether or not they have a celebrity net worth. Here are the actionable ones.
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Sign a prenup before you marry if you have significant or separate assets. A valid premarital agreement under Washington law can pre-decide property division and support, converting a contested divorce into a paperwork exercise. It must be voluntary, with full financial disclosure, and not unconscionable.
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Plan around the 90-day waiting period. Even the cleanest uncontested divorce under Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.030 cannot finalize sooner than 90 days after filing and service. Build that floor into any timeline expectations.
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Put your settlement in writing before you file. A signed property settlement agreement — like the one here — lets you present the court with resolved terms, dramatically shortening the process. Review our overview of the Washington divorce process to see where the settlement fits.
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Decide the support question deliberately. Under Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.090, maintenance is discretionary and factor-based. Waiving it (or agreeing to a set amount) removes uncertainty — but do it with eyes open, because post-decree modification of a waiver can be difficult. See our guide to spousal support modification.
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Budget realistically. Uncontested divorces cost a fraction of litigated ones. Estimate your likely range with our Washington divorce cost estimator before committing to a path.
If you are weighing a Washington divorce and want to understand your options, start with a personalized divorce roadmap or find a divorce attorney who handles agreed dissolutions and premarital agreements. A short consultation can tell you whether an uncontested path — like the one Grace and Bushnell used — is realistic for your situation.
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.