DIVORCE WAR HEATS UP
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt go head-to-head over the terms of the split and custody of their kids
They came thisclose. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were just days away from finalizing a divorce and custody agreement in late January, when talks blew up at the last minute. “They had been diligently going along privately and amicably, trying to keep the focus on the family,” an insider tells In Touch exclusively. “But suddenly, Angelina reversed course when she felt Brad was pushing too hard to resolve the situation to his benefit.”
Now both Brad, 54, and Angelina, 42, say they need more time to hash everything out. On Feb. 6, both asked to extend the temporary judge in their case — which remains sealed — while both parties continue to discuss custody and distribution of assets. “The completion date for all proceedings before the temporary judge is extended from Dec. 31, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2018,” reads the order (right), obtained by In Touch. “This means their custody battle can drag on for another year,” says the insider. “There’s no end in sight right now.”
Angelina, who filed for divorce 17 months ago after an incident in which a drunken Brad reportedly lunged at son Maddox on a plane, is showing no mercy. Not only did she bring divorce and custody proceedings to a halt, she dropped a bombshell on Brad: She’s taking all six children to England for five months beginning in March while she works on the film Maleficent 2. ( While there, Maddox, 16, will look into attending Oxford, says a source.) “Angie simply told Brad, ‘I’m taking the kids to London.’”
He was furious, but there’s not much he can do. “The divorce has turned nasty once again,” says the insider. “Unless Angelina has a major change of heart, Brad has been boxed out again, and the divorce and custody battle will rage on.” ◼