According to both national and local Tennessee news media sources, country singer Trace Adkins and his wife of 16 years, Rhonda Adkins, are seeking a divorce. Rhonda Adkins initiated the divorce proceedings in March by filing a divorce petition in Williamson County, Tennessee. In her petition for divorce, Rhonda cited irreconcilable differences as the grounds for divorce. Irreconcilable differences is very similar to Georgia's 13th grounds for divorce, irretrievably broken, because both are no-fault grounds for divorce. Thus, it is unclear whether Trace's recent substance abuse precipitated the couple's split.
In addition to requesting that their marriage be dissolved due to irreconcilable differences, Rhonda Adkins also requested primary physical custody of the couple's three daughters, child support and alimony. Rhonda also requested to be named primary beneficiary of Trace's life insurance policy, which is not an unusual request as this will ensure any awarded child support or alimony payments continue even in the event of Trace Adkins's untimely death. Rhonda Adkins also petitioned the court to order Trace to pay the legal fees that she incurs litigating the divorce. This request is also not unusual, especially in matters where the spouse seeking an award of attorney's fees is also seeking alimony. Regardless of the requests made in the divorce petition, the issues of the case will ultimately be decided by a court or by an agreement entered into by both parties after mediation or some other alternative dispute resolution mechanism.