Braunwyn Windham-Burke claimed in recently-filed court documents that she’s unable to support the children she shares with Sean Burke and has just $2,900 to her name.
Two months after filing for divorce after 23 years of marriage, the former Real Housewives of Orange County cast member accused Sean of becoming “increasingly aggressive” towards her amid their divorce battle while also requesting he pay her at least $10,000 per month in alimony.
“I am unemployed. Except for two years during our nearly 23-year marriage, I have stayed home to care for our seven children. I have relied on the Respondent for all financial security since I was 20 years old. I have relied on Respondent to make all financial decisions for 23 years and I have effectively been kept in the dark regarding the true extent of our business interests and assets,” Braunwyn claimed in divorce documents obtained by The U.S. Sun on December 12.
“Recently, Respondent stopped providing any support to me and I am unable to provide for my own support or the support of our children. I have had to rely on [a] family member to assist in meeting my basic living expenses and even expenses for our children,” she continued.
In Braunwyn’s income and expense declaration, she confirmed to the court that she has just $2,900 in cash and bank accounts before noting that her monthly expenses cost $25,750, on average, and include $10,000 towards her Newport Beach rental.
Meanwhile, Braunwyn said she believes Sean brings in $65,000 per month for his work as President and COO for one company and $10,000 per month from a second.
According to Braunwyn, she and Sean “enjoyed an upper middle-class lifestyle” during their marriage, and now, she’s nowhere near “the standard of living,” driving a Lincoln Navigator as Sean drives “brand new Mercedes and BMW’s automobiles.”
“We traveled with the children to Europe, Miami, Puerto Rico, New York and many other island vacations,” she recalled in her docs. “We would dine out weekly at restaurants such as Mastros, Javier’s and Marmalade where our average check exceeded $500.00. We had two nannies and a full-time housekeeper. I had a private trainer, and a stylist that would come to the house monthly and had my hair and makeup done regularly.”
“I enjoyed a [shopping] budget and bought luxury handbags,” she added, requesting at least $10,000 in alimony and an additional $10,000 for attorney’s fees and child support for their children, including Bella, 22, Rowan, 20, Jacob, 17, twins Caden and Curren, 9, Koa, 8, and Hazel, 4.
In his response to Braunwyn’s divorce filing, Sean requested the court consider awarding him with alimony while also checking the box for spousal support payable to Braunwyn and stating that he thinks they should cover their own attorney fees.
While Braunwyn and Sean have agreed on sharing joint legal and physical custody, Braunwyn said their co-parenting relationship has been on the decline in recent months.
“Until recently, the Respondent and I have communicated well regarding the needs of our children and have had a successful co-parenting relationship,” she explained. “We have been able to adopt a nesting system where one parent stays in the family home with the children in alternate weeks to provide a stable and consistent environment for them. This arrangement worked well until the Respondent was served until the Summons and Petition in this matter.”
Braunwyn then said Sean had become “increasingly aggressive” toward her, as had his unnamed girlfriend, who Braunwyn accused of “making threats to me via text, calling me very derogatory names.”
“Although, I am hopeful that the Respondent and I can resume a good, cooperative, and communicative co-parenting arrangement, until and unless that happens, I believe it may be in the children’s best interests to reside primarily with me and have custodial periods of time with the Respondent where we can maintain separate residences and create a more healthy and less angry environment for the children,” she wrote.
“I would hope this would just be a transitionary period where we can learn to move on in a cooperative [and] amicable manner,” Braunwyn added.
Braunwyn and Sean are scheduled to attend court-appointed mediation in January and a second hearing in February.
