Former 'Bachelorette' DeAnna Pappas Awarded Five-Figure Support Order Amid Divorce from Stephen Stagliano

DeAnna Pappas, the former star of ABC’s The Bachelorette, has secured a significant financial victory in her ongoing divorce proceedings with her estranged husband, Stephen Stagliano. Following a tense hearing in a Los Angeles courtroom, a judge ordered Stagliano to pay Pappas a five-figure sum to address immediate financial disparities. The ruling comes after Pappas submitted court filings claiming she had been forced to deplete her personal savings to cover basic living expenses for herself and the couple's two children.

Pappas, 42, and Stagliano, 40, married in October 2011, several years after Pappas rose to national fame on the eleventh season of The Bachelor and subsequently headlined the fourth season of The Bachelorette. The couple, who share daughter Addison and son Austin, announced their separation in January 2023 after more than 11 years of marriage. While their initial public statements emphasized an amicable split and a mutual commitment to co-parenting, the financial negotiations surrounding the dissolution of their long-term marriage have increasingly escalated into a contentious legal battle.

In recent court documents, Pappas’s legal team painted a stark picture of her current financial situation, asserting that she was "living off her savings to survive" due to a lack of consistent interim support. Her attorneys argued that the sudden disruption to their joint finances left her struggling to maintain household stability. Representatives for Stagliano countered by citing his own shifting financial obligations and income fluctuations. Ultimately, the presiding judge ruled in Pappas's favor, determining that the temporary five-figure payout was necessary to level the playing field while a permanent settlement is finalized.

What Lies Ahead for the Former Couple

As the case progresses in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, several key issues remain unresolved:

• Permanent Support: The current five-figure award is a temporary order; final spousal and child support amounts have yet to be determined.
• Asset Division: The division of their shared property and assets accumulated during their 11-year marriage remains subject to negotiation.
• Custody Arrangements: While both parents have expressed a desire for joint custody, formal custody schedules and parenting plans are still being finalized by their respective legal teams.

This interim ruling marks a crucial legal milestone for Pappas as she navigates her post-separation life. Observers of the case note that while the ruling provides immediate relief, both parties face intensive negotiations in the coming months as they work toward a final divorce decree.