Former NBA champion Dwight Howard officially filed for divorce from his wife Amber Howard on Monday, but sources reveal she was simultaneously attempting to do the same thing at a courthouse across town.
According to sources with direct knowledge of the situation, Amber Howard was working with her attorney to file divorce paperwork on the same day. However, Dwight Howard's filing was processed first, making him the official petitioner in the dissolution of their marriage.
The simultaneous filings underscore the deteriorated state of the marriage, which Dwight Howard described in his court documents as "irretrievably broken." In his petition, the former Los Angeles Lakers center requested exclusive use of the couple's mansion in Georgia.
Despite the dueling divorce attempts, the estranged couple continues to reside together under the same roof at their marital home in Georgia. This unusual living arrangement comes amid what sources characterize as a definitive split, unlike their previous reconciliation.
This marks the second time the couple has pursued divorce. Amber Howard initially filed to end the marriage last year, but the pair reconciled and dismissed the case. Sources close to the situation emphasize that this attempt differs significantly from the previous one, with both parties appearing committed to ending the relationship permanently.
The timing of the filings follows a tumultuous period for the couple. Gwinnett County Police were dispatched to their Georgia residence three times within a two-week span, responding to incidents including a suicide threat, a domestic situation, and a theft report.
Just days before the divorce filings, Amber Howard posted allegations about her husband on social media platform Instagram. The divorce petition came shortly after Dwight Howard spent the weekend in California with his son David, while Amber remained at their Atlanta-area home.
The dissolution of the marriage marks another chapter in the personal life of the eight-time NBA All-Star, who enjoyed a decorated professional basketball career spanning nearly two decades. The legal proceedings will now determine the division of assets and other matters related to ending the union.
