Braunwyn Windham-Burke Finalizes Divorce from Sean Burke: 'I Can Finally Start My Next Chapter' (Exclusive)

The former spouses, who were married for 23 years, were granted 50/50 custody of their seven children

Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Sean Burke are officially a wrap.

PEOPLE can confirm that the former Real Housewives of Orange County stars' divorce was finalized on Friday, more than a year after she filed to end their 23-year marriage.

The former couple was granted 50/50 custody of their seven children: Bella, 23; Rowan, 21; Jacob, 17; 10-year-old twins Caden and Curren; Koa, 8; and Hazel, 5. Sean was ordered in April to pay Brauwnyn $5,000 a month in spousal support and $6,000 per month in child support.

"Today feels like the first day of the rest of my life," Braunwyn tells PEOPLE. "You know, you go your whole life with everyone telling you what you need to do to be happy. And it gets to a certain point where you say, 'No, actually — this is what I want to do. I'm going to live for me.' And I'm thrilled that at 45 years old, I get a second chance to live for me."

Related: Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Jennifer Spinner Get Matching Tattoos on Anniversary: 'We Did (Another) Thing'

The second chance for Braunwyn will be her upcoming wedding to fiancée Jennifer Spinner. "I can finally walk down the aisle for real now," she jokes. "I'm really excited to be able to start my next chapter."

She and Spinner will also be moving out of the house they share with Sean in Tennessee.

"We moved out here and never really anticipated Sean would be moving in with us, but we tried the whole 'bird nest parenting' thing and it just isn't working," Braunwyn says. "So Jen and I are moving into our own home in December, and the kids will be moving back and forth. It's within walking distance so it'll just be better for everyone involved."

Related: Braunwyn Windham-Burke Teases Her Estranged Husband May Be Invited to Her Wedding: 'Depends on the Day'

Braunwyn — who got sober in January 2020 and came out as a lesbian nearly a year later — and Spinner have been dating since July 2022, after meeting over Instagram.

In the time they've been together, the two women have taken many steps to show off their commitment. They exchanged promise rings in January, committed to one another in a Las Vegas wedding chapel on Valentine's Day, moved together to Tennessee in the spring and got a pair of matching tattoos to mark their bond in July.

To celebrate their first date, Braunwyn surprised Spinner by proposing at 14th Street Park in New York City — steps away from where they had their first kiss.

"I've never been happier," Windham-Burke told PEOPLE at the time of the milestone. "Jen is my person. She said to me once, 'How much do you love me?' And I looked at her and said, 'It's not how much I love you. It's how small I love you. I love you on a molecular level.' And that's really it. My DNA was made for her."

Related: Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Jennifer Spinner Are Engaged! Inside the 'RHOC' Star's Romantic Proposal (Exclusive)

Spinner, 39, then returned the proposal by getting down on one knee in October and proposing herself. "Today I asked my best friend in this world, and my four tiniest best friends in this world, if they wanted to make this little family that we’re forming forever," Spinner wrote on Instagram. "The past year+ had brought me more gifts than any one person ever deserves. With this crew in my corner, life will never be boring, always be rich, and will always bring me to tears of happiness when I allow myself to soak it all in."

"[Braunwyn] thank G-D you said yes, because it would be real awkward if the kids made that sign for nothing 😂," Spinner joked. "I ❤️ you (all) with everything I am."

Related: Braunwyn Windham-Burke Gets Engaged Again After Fiancée Jennifer Spinner Proposes: 'Can't Wait to Be Your Wife'

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The two are currently in Germany, where they will be traveling for the holiday. (Due to the split nature of their custody agreement, Braunwyn will get the kids for Christmas.)

"I feel like I can finally breathe again," Braunwyn wrote on Instagram Saturday, captioning a photo of her and Spinner from their getaway.

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