Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce battle is nearing an end after nearly eight years of fighting, with the “Fight Club” star moving on with new girlfriend Ines de Ramon.
Despite filing for divorce in 2016 and a judge declaring the former couple legally single in 2019, Pitt and Jolie have not been able to resolve the remaining issues between them.
Pitt has since been dating Ines de Ramon, who is 27 years his junior. The pair’s relationship was confirmed in November 2022, just months after Ramon’s divorce from actor Paul Wesley.
Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016 after the couple got into an argument on a plane. Most of the legal documents related to Pitt and Jolie’s divorce are sealed, but legal experts told Fox News Digital they speculated about what could be delaying the settlement.
Angelina Jolie urges Brad Pitt to ‘stop fighting’ and end bitter legal battle over winery
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce has been dragging on for almost eight years as he begins a new relationship with Ines de Ramon. (Getty Images)
The child custody battle between the former couple may be one of the reasons why the divorce is dragging on.
“but, [the custody dispute] “That often leads to parties who are involved in very contentious custody battles prolonging those battles, especially when they’re on appeal or when orders have been set aside for various procedural reasons,” attorney Kara Krobak, a shareholder in Buchalter Attorneys’ Denver office, told Fox News Digital.
In 2021, Pitt was awarded 50/50 custody of the couple’s children, but Jolie appealed the ruling. At this time, it’s unclear where the couple stands regarding custody of their children. The only two children under the age of 18 are twins Vivienne and Knox.
All of Pitt and Jolie’s remaining children are over 18: Maddox is 22, Pax is 20, Zahara is 19 and Shiloh is 18.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have six children. (Samir Hussain/WireImage)
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie’s daughter hires lawyer to drop actor surname: sources
Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in 2016. (Getty Images)
An ongoing business dispute between Pitt and Jolie could also contribute to the prolonged divorce. The former couple’s French winery has been in the spotlight since Pitt sued Jolie for breach of contract in 2022. The lawsuit was triggered by the “Maleficent” actress selling her business.
In many cases, litigation that is “indirectly related” to a divorce can delay a settlement.
“The parties have to resolve one dispute in order to resolve the other. I wouldn’t say this happens often,” Kloback explained. “I think this is a relatively unique case. [Pitt and Jolie’s] It’s a different situation, but it happens.”
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s divorce is still ongoing after nearly eight years. (Getty Images)
Pitt and Jolie may also be refusing to budge financially, with Jolie making a massive $67 million profit from selling half of her Miraval property alone.
“There may still be a lot of money at stake,” Sophie Jacobi-Parisi, a partner in Blank Rome’s matrimonial and family law practice, told Fox News Digital. “Whatever their business is worth, whatever other money they’re still fighting over, it’s likely a lot of money. So sometimes there’s just not a settlement because there’s so much money being discussed and there’s so much distance between them.”
Did you enjoy reading this? For more entertainment news click here
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie met on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. (Getty Images)
The former couple’s decision to become legally single could be preventing a resolution, one legal expert explained.
“If they had to still say they were married – if they had to file taxes as co-married instead of single – I think that would probably motivate them to get it all done,” Jacobi-Parisi told Fox News Digital. “But now that they’re legally divorced but still have a lot of financial issues, it’s like a business divorce – so it’s pretty much the same as a regular lawsuit, except now you’re dealing with an ex-spouse.”
After being declared legally single, divorce “involves a certain amount of hostility and difficulty in navigating complex litigation with one’s ex-spouse.”
“Plus there are some complicated issues in some ways, like the division of assets and negotiations with Miraval. It’s not simple. So they’re now divorced in their hearts and are embroiled in a lengthy legal battle that’s more like a regular business dispute than a divorce.”
At this point, dragging out the divorce for almost eight years has cost the couple the “mental health benefit” of “feeling like they’re closing one chapter and starting a new one for themselves and their children,” Jacobi-Parisi explained.
Ines de Ramon and Brad Pitt’s relationship was confirmed in November 2022. (Getty Images)
Pitt and De Ramon don’t appear to be in any rush to get involved, a source told Us Weekly.
“Brad and Inez both feel like they’ve met their soul mates,” a source said, while another insisted the pair are “not pushing for an engagement.”
“They know how serious they are. [about each other]; You don’t need a ring to prove it.”
Click here to sign up for our Entertainment Newsletter
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are in a legal battle over French winery Miraval. (Michelle Ganne/AFP)
During the couple’s Miraval legal battle, Jolie’s lawyers released a statement saying Pitt “should end the fight.”
“Mr. Pitt has control over all of the couple’s joint property and businesses, yet he still wants more and is suing Angelina for $67 million plus punitive damages,” Jolie’s lawyer, Paul Murphy, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “In doing so, Mr. Pitt clearly calls into question why he sought to punish and control Angelina by demanding a new and expanded non-disclosure agreement to cover his own misconduct and abuse, which are at the heart of this lawsuit.”
“We are not at all surprised that Mr. Pitt is afraid to produce the documents verifying these facts,” the lawyer added. “Angelina once again calls on Mr. Pitt to end the dispute and finally put her family on the path to healing, but unless Mr. Pitt drops his lawsuit, Angelina will have no choice but to obtain the evidence she needs to prove his claims false.”
Angelina Jolie’s lawyers have issued a statement saying Brad Pitt needs to “end” his winery dispute. (Getty Images)
However, a source familiar with Pitt’s response to Jolie’s request told Fox News Digital that the winery lawsuit is a “simple business dispute.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
“This is a simple business dispute but unfortunately the other side has consistently brought up personal elements to expose weaknesses in their case and complicate and prolong the litigation,” the source said.
