The Golden Bachelor: Are Gerry Turner & Theresa Nist Still Married? (Their Divorce Timeline Explained)

Summary Gerry & Theresa were the first Golden Bachelor couple, but their marriage ended due to living separate lives and other factors.

Their divorce process may take at least six months to become official, but both seem amicable and ready to move on with their lives.

Gerry, a retired restauranteur, won fans over with his charm and emotion, choosing Theresa over Leslie in the end.

The Golden Bachelor season 1 couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist announced their divorce last month, but their divorce timeline is likely ongoing. 72-year-old Gerry was the first lead in The Bachelor franchise spinoff for people looking for love in their sunset years. Gerry had been married to his high school sweetheart, Toni Turner, for 43 years before she passed away suddenly in 2017 due to a bacterial infection. The pair had just bought their dream home on a lake in Indiana before she passed. Gerry and his wife had two daughters, and Gerry is very close with his family.

Gerry, a retired restauranteur, won the hearts of The Golden Bachelor fans with his charm, sense of humor, empathy, and desire to find the woman he couldn't live without. During the show, Gerry dated 22 women before he narrowed it down to his final three with whom he went on hometown dates. Gerry showed real emotion throughout the selection process, which only made him more relatable to viewers and the women vying for his heart. Gerry made his choice with Theresa Nist, but it seems that he didn't choose the right woman.

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Gerry & Theresa's The Golden Bachelor Journey

Gerry Was Between Theresa & Leslie Fhima

Gerry went on hometown dates with Theresa, Leslie Fhima, and Faith Martin. He told Leslie and Faith that he loved them during those dates and didn't tell Theresa he loved her until the Fantasy Suite date in Costa Rica. Leslie was the second woman Gerry chose to take to Costa Rica. He and Leslie went on the first date and had an amazing time; they had strong chemistry throughout the whole The Golden Bachelor process. Gerry made it seem like he was going to choose Leslie at the end of their date.

However, Gerry had an eye-opening date with Theresa the following day, and the pair bonded and solidified their compatibility (via Bachelor Nation.) The closeness he felt with Theresa outweighed his feelings for Leslie, and he told Leslie he wouldn't be choosing her. Leslie was devastated and was mad at Gerry for blindsiding her with the revelation.

Gerry felt bad, but ultimately picked up the pieces and went on to propose to Theresa, who said yes. Theresa and Gerry got married live on TV at The Golden Wedding on January 4, 2024, after having met in August 2024 when filming started. However, Gerry and Theresa announced they were getting a divorce on April 12, 2024, just a few months after tying the knot.

What Caused Gerry & Theresa's Break Up?

There Were Several Factors

Close

According to Gerry and Theresa, the cause for their divorce was them living separate lives. They never moved in together because Theresa had strong ties to staying in New Jersey while Gerry had the same in Indiana. Behind the scenes, however, there was talk of Theresa wanting a prenup being a point of contention. Furthermore, details surfaced regarding Gerry lying about not having a love life after his wife's passing, and his ex-girlfriend painted Gerry as a callous person.

Also, Gerry and Theresa were at two different places in their later years, since Theresa still wanted to work her job as a successful financier.

Is Gerry & Theresa's Divorce Official?

Can They Move On Completely?

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In the US, divorces take at least six months to become official because there are four parts that need to take place (per selfhelp.courts.ca.gov.) The divorce case gets opened, financial information must be shared, decisions on how to split assets must be made, and then the final paperwork with everyone in agreeance is drafted before the divorce is finalized.

If Gerry and Theresa went through with the prenup, their divorce proceeding would likely be more streamlined and therefore more likely to be finalized at the six-month mark.

Since the first The Golden Bachelor couple announced they were filing for divorce in mid-April 2024, they could be officially divorced as soon as mid-September 2024. Gerry and Theresa also still appear to be amicable, as do their families, so there might not be any cause for delay in the divorce proceeding since they are getting along. In any case, they are likely still not officially divorced this soon, but they seemed resolute in their decision to split, so each can move on with their lives while the final divorce details are worked out.

The Golden Bachelor is available to stream on Hulu.

Source: selfhelp.courts.ca.gov