Alex Sapir’s divorce heading to trial in October

Nearly four years after Yanina Sapir filed for divorce from her estranged husband, developer Alex Sapir, their fight appears to be headed to a conclusion.

Yanina filed for divorce in April 2022, seeking child support and alimony from her husband based on the lifestyle they shared during their marriage. Their divorce could be wrapped up at trial in October, though the Sapirs could settle it before then.

Recent filings shed light on the ongoing battle.

Last week, Miami-Dade Judge George Sarduy approved an order where Yanina agreed to sign off on documents tied to a $2.2 million loan secured by the equity in their home on the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach. The waterfront estate is on the market, asking $37 million.

The loan was to be used for: nearly $1.5 million to cover Yanina’s share of expenses tied to the future sale; about $450,000 to fund interest reserves required by the lender, as well as closing costs and commissions for the loan; about $85,000 to fund the overdraw on their joint account, which pays the existing $10 million mortgage; about $130,000 to pay Alex’s American Express card and reinstate Yanina’s American Express privileges; and $100,000 in alimony.

The amount allocated to Yanina would have varied based on what share of the home Alex ends up receiving, if any.

But just two days after the judge signed off on the order, Yanina asked the judge to throw out the order. Alex’s attorney, Jason Marks of the Miami-based Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine law firm, said Alex and Yanina are in discussions to try to resolve their issues. Alex is current on all debt obligations, Marks said.

Yanina’s lawyer, Natalie Lemos of South Miami-based Leinoff & Lemos, did not respond to a request for comment. But in her latest motion, Lemos wrote that Alex and the lender “could not agree on the final terms of the loan,” and the loan did not close, rendering the previous court order moot.

A non-jury trial is set to begin Oct. 19.

Last year, Alex and Yanina sold the waterfront home next door to theirs to Shark Tank investor Rohan Oza for $9.8 million.

Alex is the son of the late Tamir Sapir, founder of the New York-based Sapir Organization. Alex, who heads Sapir Org. and the Sapir Corp., developed Arte Surfside, a boutique luxury condo building north of Miami Beach. Last year, he and his partners re-listed a 1.5-acre development site in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood, which is zoned for 741 residential units and nearly 1.5 million square feet of development.

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