On Monday Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons and his estranged wife Dawn will air their dirty laundry in family court. That’s where their divorce proceedings will take place in front of Judge Frances Dougherty. New court documents make claims and counter claims within this messy divorce.

Each side is claiming what he and she believe they are entitled. Land, retirement money, and alimony will all be brought in during Monday's court proceedings.

The couple has been married for 23 years and this divorce has been going on for the last 18-months. The Governor's attorney claims the first lady is merely trying to publicly degrade Jim Gibbons by dragging this case into the next election and ruining his political career.

For her part the first lady says she cannot support herself and get a job she claims because the Governor has convinced powerful friends to put out the word not to hire her.

Under contention an alimony payment demanded by Dawn Gibbons, a home on Kinney Lane in Reno, land in Lamoille located in northeastern Nevada, retirement accounts, pension and life insurance policies.

Statistically most divorces take place outside of the court room. It’s not common for couples to actually go to court to dissolve the marriage. Beverly Paschal is a licensed family therapist in Reno. She says in general these couples that make up 5% have one thing in common.

“I've seen cases, I've had this in here, where they will be fighting over silly things like golf clubs. Well what whey are paying me and what they are paying the attorneys, they could buy 7 sets of golf clubs and have one for every day of the week. That's not it. Its not about the item. Its about the perceptions that I was done wrong, therefore I want my pound of flesh, I want revenge,” says Paschal.