Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Finalize Divorce After 8 years

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Finally Settle Divorce After Eight Years of Legal Battles

 

After more than eight years of highly publicized legal disputes, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have officially finalized their divorce. Jolie, 49, initially filed for divorce on September 19, 2016, citing irreconcilable differences, following two years of marriage and 12 years as a couple.

 

The settlement was signed on Monday, December 30, marking a major milestone in their prolonged separation. “More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time, she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family,” Jolie’s lawyer, James Simon, shared in a statement. “This is just one part of a long ongoing process. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.”

 

A source close to Jolie noted that the actress has been striving to maintain a positive outlook, saying, “She doesn’t speak ill of [Pitt] publicly or privately. She’s been trying hard to be light after a dark time.”

 

A Tumultuous Journey to Resolution

 

The divorce proceedings have been anything but smooth. Jolie filed for dissolution shortly after a private plane incident where she alleged Pitt was abusive toward her and their six children. Although authorities investigated, no charges were filed, and Jolie opted not to pursue legal action.

 

In January 2017, the former couple reached an agreement to handle their divorce privately, employing a private judge to manage legal decisions and preserve their family’s privacy. The agreement emphasized their shared commitment to protecting their children: Maddox (23), Pax (21), Zahara (19), Shiloh (18), and twins Vivienne and Knox (16).

 

Despite being declared legally single in 2019, the exes continued to clash over custody arrangements and their $164 million French estate and winery, Château Miraval.

 

The Château Miraval Saga

 

The ownership of Château Miraval became a flashpoint in their post-divorce disputes. Pitt filed a lawsuit in 2022 accusing Jolie of selling her stake without his consent. Jolie countered, alleging that Pitt was “waging a vindictive war” against her.

 

Jolie’s countersuit claimed Pitt had orchestrated a scheme to seize control of the winery after their split in 2016. Pitt’s representatives dismissed her claims, calling them “deliberate misrepresentations.”

 

Throughout 2024, the legal wrangling over Miraval escalated. In November, Jolie secured a victory when a judge ruled that Pitt must disclose emails and texts that her lawyers argue will support her claims of abuse and a cover-up. However, Pitt also achieved progress in the case when a judge denied Jolie’s motions to dismiss, suggesting there might be evidence of a prior agreement regarding the sale of their shares.

 

Pitt’s legal team has called Jolie’s demands for additional documents “a sensationalist fishing expedition,” while Jolie’s team has described Pitt’s actions as “malicious and frivolous.”

 

 

Although the divorce has officially been settled, the Château Miraval dispute remains unresolved, continuing to test the strained dynamic between the former Hollywood power couple.

 

While both parties remain entrenched in separate legal battles, the finalized divorce marks a significant step toward closure. For Jolie, it’s a moment of relief amid years of turmoil, while for Pitt, it’s an opportunity to move on with his life, as he’s been romantically linked with L.A. jewelry executive Ines de Ramon since 2022.

 

For now, the long, contentious chapter of their divorce has closed, but the legacy of their high-profile relationship continues to reverberate both in courtrooms and the public eye.