Shannen Doherty's ex-husband seen for first time since challenging divorce amid battle over late actress' estate

Shannen Doherty's ex-husband Kurt Iswarienko surfaced this week in Los Angeles, marking his first public sighting since he challenged his divorce from the late actress.

In new court documents filed last week on January 14, Iswarienko’s lawyer claims the signed divorce agreement was brought to the wrong court, thereby challenging the jurisdiction of the case, as reported by Us Weekly.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 star died on July 13, 2024, at age 53 following a nearly decade-long battle with cancer.

The divorce agreement was signed by Doherty on July 12, 2024, followed by Iswarienko’s signature on July 13, 2024, and the deal was approved by a judge on July 15, 2024.

Now, in the new court papers, Iswarienko, a photographer, claims the divorce case should never have gone through the court system because Doherty’s death on July 13 terminated the marriage. Therefore, he argues that the court lacks the legal power to enforce the terms of the agreement.

Iswarienko, 51, was glimpsed on Monday five days after filing the documents, dressed down in a transparent white tank top and a pair of sweats. 

In legal documents obtained by The Daily Mail, the estate has accused Iswarienko of failing to follow through on various agreements he made as part of their divorce judgement, including a failure to list the $1.5M Dripping Springs, Texas home they shared by a particular date.

They also accuse Iswarienko of withholding more than $50,000 he allegedly owes the estate and failing to return Doherty's personal property.

The allegations were made in a filing done by Chris Cortazzo, the trustee of the Shannen Doherty Family Trust, as he sought to become the Successor in Interest to Decedent in order to enforce the judgement between Doherty and Iswarienko. It was filed on November 24 and includes their divorce judgement as an exhibit.

The judgment says that Iswarienko agreed to put their Texas home on the market by April 1, 2025 and 'equally divide the net proceeds' of any sale with Doherty's estate.

However, 'as of the date of this Declaration, Respondent has refused to list the Texas Residence for sale. Respondent has similarly refused to return Decedent's items of personal property,' the filing claims.

The former couple also agreed that Iswarienko would buy out Doherty's interest in her Mooney-20 Airplane for $100,000 following the sale of an airplane hangar.

However, the filing alleges Iswarienko withheld $50,274 from his ex's estate.

'Upon the sale of the Hangar in August 2024, one month after Decedent's death, Respondent unilaterally withheld $50,274 from his payment to Decedent's estate,' it says.

'Respondent's payment to Decedent's estate was due within five (5) business days of the sale of the hangar, or on August 21, 2024. Respondent's payment is now 15 months delinquent.'

They also claim Iswarienko has not fulfilled an agreement to produce a list of works he produced during their marriage, in addition to copies of his work published during their union.

Their agreement stated that Doherty would receive one half of all licensing and syndication fees that her ex received from any works he created during their marriage, with some exceptions. 

They also agreed that Iswarienko would remove all pictures of Doherty from his website.

He was to create the lists by September 1, 2024, however the estate claims he has failed to do so.

Doherty passed away in 2024, four years after she was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 then went into remission in 2017.

She was surrounded by her loved ones and beloved dog, Bowie, upon her death, her publicist Leslie Sloane shared.

She told People: 'It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease.

'The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.'

Doherty is best known for her roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed.

Before she wed Iswarienko, she was briefly married to Rick Salomon between 2002-2003 and Ashley Hamilton between 1993-1994.