Peace breaks out in Battle of ‘Brangelina’
BRAD PITT and Angelina Jolie have settled their bitter child custody battle just days before a potentially damaging trial.
The celebrity couple, known as Brangelina, have been fighting over access to their six children – Maddox, 17, Pax, 15, Zahara, 13, Shiloh, 12, and ten-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne – since their split in September 2016.
They had been scheduled to appear in front of family court judge in Los Angeles on Tuesday to thrash out a deal.
‘ A custody arrangement was agreed two weeks ago and has been signed by both parties and the judge,’ said Jolie’s lawyer, Samantha Bley DeJean yesterday. ‘The details of the agreement are confidential to protect the best interests of the children.’
The couple, who met in 2004 while filming Mr & Mrs Smith when Pitt was married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston, broke up after Pitt allegedly clashed with son Maddox on a private jet.
The LA County Department of Child and Family Services investigated claims that the actor had ‘ struck’ the boy after drinking wine, but later cleared him of any wrongdoing.
A source close to Jolie told The Mail on Sunday last night: ‘Angelina had concerns and was determined to maintain prime custody of the children. Brad has been very unhappy at the limited access he has had.’
Following a highly publicised war of words over child maintenance payments, the pair reached a temporary agreement in June when a judge in LA ruled that ‘not having a relationship with their father would be harmful to the children’.
Jolie, 43, spent the summer in Britain filming Maleficent II while Pitt, 54, remained in LA.
The source added: ‘Brad was flying to the UK at weekends to see the children. He is a devoted father.
‘Angie and Brad have had their differences but they both remain committed to putting their children first.’
The couple have still to reach a deal to divide their estimated £100 million fortune, but a source close to Jolie said she was ‘very pleased to be entering the next stage’.
A source close to Pitt said: ‘Nothing is final and permanent but at least it is going in the right direction.’