Getting used to the new normal Divorce proceedings between Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence have been just as fraught as their marriage was before they finally called it quits in January 2022.
The pro from Dancing With the Stars and the actor from Boy Meets World started dating in 2007. One year later, they broke up, but by 2017 they had reconciled and were talking about making their relationship permanent.
I’ve never seen Cheryl this happy and at peace,” an insider told Us Weekly in February 2017. In other words, “Matt is a fantastic presence in her life, and I can see this being it for her.”
Cheryl Burke is throwing shade at one of her exes.https://t.co/RUgF0Ew4Fq
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) August 25, 2022
Lawrence proposed in May of 2018, and they moved in together soon after. The happy couple exchanged vows in May of 2019 at San Diego’s Fairmont Grand Del Mar.
Burke and the Mrs. Doubtfire star got married in 2019, and in May of that year, he surprised Burke with a puppy he called Ysabella.
After becoming engaged to Lawrence, the “Pretty Messed Up” podcast co-host resolved to give up drinking. This revelation came four months later. In September 2020, two years after her alcoholic father’s death, she celebrated her recovery.
After a month, the Dance Moms star expressed gratitude to the actor from Jumping Ship for being by her side throughout her recovery.
Simply put, he is my rock. Burke said on Good Morning America in October 2020, “I don’t know where I would be without him.” Your friends will shift when you make a decision, especially if it’s a major one that will affect the rest of your life. And, you know, there will be many who agree with it. Obviously, not everyone will. And ultimately, you have to be fine with this.
Burke and Lawrence’s attempts to start a family were met with ups and downs, much like her sobriety issues. In April of 2020, the Pennsylvania native revealed exclusively to Us that she and her partner had delayed starting a family due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
According to Lawrence’s earlier statements, the group is currently “simply waiting to see what happens” before deciding on their next course of action. “I think we’ll have a better view or understanding when this starts to clear out.”
Tragically, the couple’s hopes of starting a family were dashed when, in February 2022, the Us confirmed that Burke had filed for divorce in Los Angeles.
Keep reading to learn more about the divorce proceedings between Burke and Lawrence.
This is a continually updated article first published in March 2022 and most recently revised on Monday, March 21.
Table of Contents
Cheryl Files for Divorce
Documents obtained by We show that the professional dancer filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on February 18, 2022. Burke stated that she and Lawrence couldn’t work things out and asked that they each pay their own legal bills. Separation papers also included the couple’s prenuptial agreement.
Date of Separation
Burke stated in court documents that the couple’s separation occurred on January 7, 2022. During the latter days of their relationship in December 2021, the couple was observed celebrating Christmas together.
Cheryl Breaks Her Silence
In February of 2022, the Californian native sent an Instagram message in which she discussed the breakup. The ballroom dancer took to social media on February 24 and said, “I know I have always claimed I’m an open book with you guys, I do strive to be, and in writing this I’ve realized there really isn’t an easy way to tell that my marriage is ending.” Please be patient and respect my need for space at this time; I appreciate your understanding. I appreciate everyone’s encouragement and thoughtful comments.
Revisiting Their Wedding Venue
Burke posted a series of Instagram images from their wedding reception venue in San Diego in February 2022, “Taking a few days alone to go inside, contemplate, and really attempt to experience my feelings – with my partner in crime of course.”
She took Ysabella, the family’s French bulldog, with her. The TV star continued, “Some quiet time alone with this girl is just what I needed.” A heartfelt “thank you” to the staff at “my home away from home” @fairmontgranddelmar.
Were Kids a Factor in the Split?
In March of 2022, a source told Us exclusively that the couple had no disagreements about having children before they split up. The source also noted that the “cause” for the split “was not about having kids,” therefore the choreographer and the Brotherly Love star are “keeping divorce proceedings quiet.”
According to the same source, “Cheryl’s using this time to reflect on next moves and focus on her mental health” after the breakup.
First Public Appearance
In March 2022, the actor from Hot Chick made his first public appearance since the news of his divorce hit the press at the first-ever 90s Con. During talks with his Boy Meets World co-stars at the event, keen fans noticed that Lawrence wasn’t wearing his wedding band.
Me Time
Burke let slip, three days after Lawrence made his first public appearance in March 2022, that she was taking some time off to relax at a health and wellness center. On Instagram, she gushed, “What better way to spend my first time at a health & wellness resort than with Ysabella and my Mom?” “I’m very lucky to be spending an entire week at the stunning [Cal-a-Vie Health Spa].”
Matthew’s Response
Early in March 2022, two months after he and Burke had separated, Lawrence responded to Burke’s divorce petition. In his petition, he demanded that his divorced wife cover the cost of his legal representation. Burke had previously insisted that Lawrence foot the bill for his own legal representation.
Making a Change
Burke deleted all of the photographs from her Instagram account that included her with Lawrence in March of 2022. The professional dancer also deleted her husband’s account after they broke up. However infrequently, Lawrence still keeps up with Burke’s social media activity by following him.
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert Weigh In
Hough told Us exclusively in March at the Mercedes-Benz Oscar 2022 Viewing Party that Burke is doing well: “She’s good.” “I mean, it’s a tough thing to go through, but she’s got a really excellent support system, so that’s nice,” Erbert added.
Headed to Trial?
In May 2022, a representative for Burke filed a motion seeking a trial date for issues related to the couple’s divorce, including alimony, equitable distribution of marital assets, and costs associated with the litigation.
Moving Foward
Due to his status as a self-employed individual, Lawrence reported an annual income of zero dollars when he filled out tax papers that were due in June 2022. In the papers, he detailed his possessions, writing that his cash and bank accounts, savings, and other deposit accounts total $5,000.
Lawrence, who claims to be living with their mother and brother Andrew, has declared $200,000 in “all other property, real and personal.” According to the documents, he also listed his typical monthly expenditures as $10,050.
A divorce trial date was scheduled after he submitted the paperwork. On September 26, 2022, the exes will reconcile at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles.