Actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have finally reached a divorce settlement after an eight year long dispute.
Jolie originally filed for divorce from her husband of two years back in 2016 citing irreconcilable differences as the main reason for the decision. She also filed for full physical custody of their six children, then aged 8 to 15 with visitation rights for Pitt.
Jolie's lawyer has now told Reuters that “The parties and their counsel have signed agreements to preserve the privacy rights of their children and family by keeping all court documents confidential and engaging a private judge to make any necessary legal decisions and to facilitate the expeditious resolution of any remaining issues,"
However, her lawyer noted that the settlement “is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago.”
“Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over," she adds.
Jolie's decision to file for custody of the pair's children sparked a long and bitter dispute where both sides accused each other of attempting to sway the media in their favour. Pitt was also investigated and cleared of child abuse at the time.
A custody decision was reached in 2021 with a private judge where both parents split equal custody.
"She doesn't speak ill of him publicly or privately. She’s been trying hard to be light after a dark time," a source close to the actress was cited as saying in the lawyer's statement.
The children had wanted her to "speak up for herself, to defend herself over these years," the source added.
The two originally got together in 2005 after filming ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ together. Pitt was married to 'Friends' actress Jennifer Anniston at the time and was accused of having an affair with Jolie during filming. However Jolie denies this, saying the two were just friends before Pitt's split with Anniston in 2005.
In the past few years the couple battled legal issues pertaining to the $164 million French estate and winery that they shared, Château Miraval.
In February 2022, Pitt filed a lawsuit against Jolie over her sale of her stake in Château Miraval. In response, the Tomb Raider star filed a countersuit, claiming that her ex was "waging a vindictive war against" her.
The former couple has continued to battle over Miraval throughout 2024, separate from their divorce proceedings. In November, Jolie achieved a legal victory when a judge ruled that Pitt must disclose documents, including emails and texts, which Jolie's lawyer, Paul Murphy, asserts will support her allegations of abuse against Pitt and “years of cover-up” on his part.
That same month, Pitt secured his own win in the winery dispute when Jolie’s motions to dismiss the lawsuit were denied, bringing the case closer to trial. A potential written agreement regarding the sale of the property was cited by a source close to Pitt, who said it "demonstrates the legitimacy of his claims."
