‘Legal Showdown for Brittany Renner and Kevin Gates: Why California’s Cooling-Off Law Keeps Them Married Despite Divorce Papers’
Inside This Legal Drama
- Flash Marriage, Legal Slowdown: Brittany Renner and Kevin Gates tied the knot on April 6, 2025, but signed divorce papers just 52 days later. Despite headlines, the law says they’re still married—and will be for months.
- No “Quickie Divorce” in California: State law requires a minimum six-month cooling-off period before any divorce can become official, even if both parties agree and file all paperwork correctly.
- Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution: The Fastest Route—But Still Not Instant: For short marriages like this, California provides a streamlined divorce process called summary dissolution, but it cannot shortcut the six-month waiting period mandated by law.
By Samuel Lopez – USA Herald
HOLLYWOOD, CA – Celebrity relationships are often as fleeting as they are passionate, but Brittany Renner and Kevin Gates’ recent marital saga brings a new twist: in California, even whirlwind romances can’t sidestep the slow gears of the legal system. Despite recent reports of them being ‘divorced’ – the law says Renner and Gates remain legally married—and will for months to come.
On April 6, 2025, influencer and Basketball Wives LA star Brittany Renner quietly married rapper Kevin Gates, known for hits like “2 Phones” and “Really Really.” The marriage, largely kept from the public eye, came as a surprise. The real bombshell, though, landed less than two months later when Renner confirmed they had ‘divorced’ on May 28.
Fans and gossip sites immediately labeled the union one of the shortest in celebrity history. But California law cares little for headlines.
California Family Code Section 2339(a) is clear: No divorce can be finalized until at least six months have passed from the date the petition is served or filed with the court. No judge can override this statutory waiting period—not even for celebrities.
This six-month “cooling-off period” was designed to give couples one last chance to reconcile, or, at minimum, to allow emotions to settle and ensure all legal matters (property, debts, spousal support, etc.) are addressed without haste. In practice, this means Renner and Gates will not be officially single again until at least October 2025.
“Even if you agree on everything and submit all paperwork, California’s law gives every couple—regardless of status or income—six months to think it over,” explains Los Angeles-based family law attorney Carla Barrett. “There’s no getting around it.”
California does offer a streamlined process called summary dissolution—essentially a “fast track” divorce for couples in short marriages with few complications.
Renner and Gates appear to fit the criteria for filing a Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution, given the brevity of their marriage, lack of children, and public statements that both agree to the split. But even with a summary dissolution, the state-mandated waiting period remains.
