Dwyane Wade Officially Splits With Wife

Dwyane Wade got his long-sought divorce Friday, and his now ex-wife Siohvaughn Wade didn't even show up for the official split.

After the proceeding Wade said he felt "relief."

"Word's can't really describe it," the NBA star said. "'I've been living this for three years."

His lawyer, Jim Pritikin, put the case in terms Wade's fans can understand.

"The judge called her for her last and final flagrant foul. Her game is over and the judge has granted Dwyane a divorce and made him truly a free agent," Pritkin said.

The Wade divorce has been fraught with oddities from the beginning. Siohvaughn Wade supplied most of the sensationalism. She's fired or lost nine lawyers, she's been held arrested and jailed for not showing up  to court, and she's filed a lawsuit against Wade's girlfriend, Gabrielle Union.

Siovaughn is expected to quickly file an appeal, likely on Monday, citing that grounds do not exist for what's known as a "bifurcate judgment" — in short, an order that will end the marriage but not decide either custody of the couple's two children or how the marital assets will be decided.

"There is not an appropriate circumstance to grant a bifurcation," attorney Michael Kalcheim said Thursday night in a telephone interview from Chicago.

Kalcheim said Siohvaughn Wade is prepared to start the next chapter in her life, but is concerned for her children. The appeal can be filed only after Friday's judgment is entered.

"All she wants is to have the mother and father raise the child," Kalcheim said.

Dwyane Wade is seeking sole custody of his sons, ages 8 and 3, and was awarded temporary custody earlier this month after a judge determined his visitation time with the kids "has been frustrated on an ongoing basis as a result of continual interference" by his estranged wife.

"All I'm focused on now is to make sure Zaire and Zion are put in the best situation possible," Wade said after court. "I've had them for a while now and its been the best thing about this summer.

Wade is expected to become a free agent on July 1 and wants to remain with the Heat, who could offer a contract worth around $127 million.