Kim Zolciak-BiermannandKroy Biermann’sdivorcewas a long time coming, and in large part due to their ongoing financial problems, according to two sources.
A pal ofThe Real Housewives of Atlanta’s star exclusively tells PEOPLE that she had been planning her split from her husband of nearly 12 years for “a long time.”
“She had not told anyone, not even family,” the friend reveals. “She didn’t tell anyone, even [her] friends were kept in the dark.”
The friend says a major factor in the split was the pair’s ongoing financial woes, includingthe foreclosure of their Georgia mansionand recent reports that theyowe the IRS over $1 millionin unpaid taxes. (PEOPLE reached out to the IRS for confirmation but was told in a statement: “Federal law prevents the IRS from confirming or denying correspondence with any taxpayer or case, nor does the IRS comment.")
“The money has been a huge issue,” the friend says. “The million-dollar tax [payment] was just way too much pressure on them.”
Another source reiterates how finances played a role in their split, and tells PEOPLE the pair are not currently cordial with each other.
“There’s no cheating on either side. The money has a lot to do with the split, but there were other factors,” the source says. “He’s been managing [the family] for a long time, so he technically did have a job. They’re not on good terms right now.”
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And though the problems have seemingly been going on for some time, the friend tells PEOPLE this hasn’t made the divorce news any easier.
“They are a very tight-knit family and this isn’t easy for any of the children,” the friend says, referencing Zolciak-Biermann and Biermann’s fourchildren: 9-year-old twinsKaia Rose and Kane Ren, plus sonsKash Kade, 10, andKroy Jagger, 11. Biermann also legally adopted Zolciak-Biermann’s older daughtersBrielle Biermann, 26, andAriana Biermann, 21, in 2013.
PEOPLE has reached out to Zolciak-Biermann and Biermann’s reps for comment.
The Bravo star and her former NFL player husbandmet at a charity event in May 2010. Less than two years later, the pair wed in November 2011, which was documented on their reality showDon’t Be Tardy.Don’t Be Tardyevolved into showcasing the couple’s daily life with their family.
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In the filing, Zolciak-Biermann described her marriage as “irretrievably broken with no hope of reconciliation.” Zolciak-Biermann is seeking primary physical custody of their children and joint legal custody; she has also asked for spousal support and the restoration of her maiden name.
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source: people.com
