Behind the Divorce of Deadliest Catch’s Jake Anderson and His Wife

Deadliest Catch star Jake Anderson surprised fans of the Discovery Channel reality show when he announced in the season 22 premiere that he was divorcing his wife, Jenna Anderson.

Although he revealed their separation in an episode that aired in May, Us Weekly has confirmed that Jake, 45, officially filed for divorce in September 2025 in Washington.

In court documents obtained exclusively by Us, Jake noted that he and Jenna had separated on August 1, 2025, when they began living apart. (During the Deadliest Catch season 22 premiere, Jake mentioned that he and Jenna had been divided for approximately eight months.)

The reality star contended to the court that “spousal support is not needed,” and proposed that both he and Jenna share costs associated with daycare, summer school/care, long-distance transportation, education, college expenses, and other child-related costs for their three children. (Jake and Jenna have sons Aiden, 10, and Luka, 5, as well as daughter Cadence, 8).

Jenna contested several key aspects of Jake’s divorce petition, including the timeline of their relationship, in a response filed with the court in October 2025. She concurred with Jake that they were married on May 12, 2012, but clarified that they “began living together in a serious, marriage-like relationship (committed intimate relationship) in September 2009.”

She disputed the claimed separation date of August 1, 2025, insisting instead that they parted ways two weeks earlier on July 15, 2025, when she relocated to another residence.

In her response, Jenna rejected Jake’s appeal for waiving child support, asserting that “spousal support is needed by me.”

“[He] has the ability to pay and should pay support in an amount determined by the court,” she stated.

Along with seeking Jake to cover her legal fees and related court expenses, Jenna disagreed with the parenting plan proposed in Jake’s divorce filing. She suggested that “the court should grant the parenting plan I propose,” which she intended to submit to the court.

Additionally, Jenna disagreed with Jake’s proposal for sharing long-distance transportation costs, dismissing it as “unnecessary.”

Regarding their children’s education, Jenna emphasized that support for college “should be reserved,” although she considered Jake’s outline of child-related expenses as “too vague.”

Nonetheless, Jenna agreed with Jake that they should share expenses related to educational needs and extracurricular activities, and she planned to detail this in a forthcoming child support plan.

The divorce documents also addressed the couple’s shared property. Online records indicate that the Andersons sold their Washington home for nearly $1 million in November 2025.

Us has learned that both Jake and Jenna initially received $25,000 from the sale proceeds, with the remainder to be divided later through a written agreement and court order.

Us has reached out to the Andersons’ attorney for comment.

During the Deadliest Catch season 22 premiere, Jake disclosed, “after 17 years together, 13 years married, Jenna and I have decided to call it quits.”

“It’s due to a lot of factors. The main one is that I’m away too often crab fishing,” Jake confessed in the episode. “But I have three little ones that need to eat, go to school, and have doctor’s appointments, and I don’t have a job.”

Jenna is looking to revert to her maiden name, Patterson, once the divorce is finalized, according to court documents obtained by Us. The divorce case remains ongoing as of publication.