George Zimmerman has hired a Tampa lawyer to fight a divorce case filed by his estranged wife Shellie.
Howard Iken of Ayo & Iken will represent the convicted gunman, whose ex recently requested a Florida judge grant her a divorce without word from Zimmerman.
The Orlando Sentinel reported 26-year-old Shellie originally filed for divorce on Sept. 5, but didn't receive a response from her former husband, leading her to seek expedited legal action.
Iken told the Sentinel on Tuesday that Zimmerman would soon file a request to have the default put aside.
"The first order of business is to set aside the clerk's order of default," Iken stated, adding that Zimmerman had plans to contest the divorce.
According to Florida law, a citizen must respond to a divorce filing within 20 days. Zimmerman was served on Dec. 18, while he awaited trial at Seminole County jail on a domestic violence case with current girlfriend Samantha Scheibe, who is reportedly pregnant with his child.
When Shellie Zimmerman's attorney Kelly Sims didn't get a response, she filed for the default, which allows the judge to take Shellie's testimony as completely truthful, and proceed with the case regardless of Zimmerman's involvement.
Shellie and George Zimmerman don't have children or own property with one another. Shellie is reportedly asking for full custody of their pet dogs Leroy and Oso. She's also detailed around $13,000 in assets and nearly $104,000 in debts.
Iken wouldn't comment on Zimmerman's funds or finances.
George Zimmerman was acquitted of all murder charges in 2013, after he shot and killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, who was walking through his neighborhood of Sanford, Fla.
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