Why Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce settlement has taken eight years, lawyer explains

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, once considered Hollywood’s biggest couple, were only married for two years but their divorce has taken eight years to settle four times longer than their marriage.

Let’s take a look at why their divorce took a long to finalize:

A complicated and painful process

Their divorce became messy, involving fights over their children and a vineyard in France that they owned together. The Maria star’s lawyer called it a long ongoing process.

Celebrity lawyer Chris Melcher told BBC News that the case was unusually long. “This is much longer than any divorce we typically see,” he said.

He explained the delays were due to custody fights and the winery. “But they initially had fights over custody and then it revolved around this winery they own together, and that’s been the focus of their fight over the last few years.”

Chris added that most celebrities want quick divorces. “A lot of times in a case of this magnitude we can settle it within six months, a year at the very most. Eight years is really a sign of something more going on. It’s an inability to let go and a desire to really harm the other.”

The incident on the plane

Angelina filed for divorce one day after a reported incident on a private flight. Pitt was accused of hitting their son Maddox, who was 15 at the time. The FBI and social workers investigated but didn’t take action. Brad denied the claims.

In 2022, new legal papers said Pitt had drunkenly attacked Jolie and two of their children. A source close to Pitt told the BBC the claims were false.

In 2020, the actress told Vogue, “It was the right decision, I continue to focus on their healing.”

In a 2017 GQ interview, Brad called the split a turning point, “A huge generator for change.” He said they wanted to avoid “vitriolic hatred” and work things out privately.

Vineyard dispute

The couple bought Chateau Miraval in 2008 and married there in 2014 but Angelina later sold her share to a company linked to a Russian oligarch. Pitt sued her, saying they had agreed not to sell without the other’s permission.

The emotional impact

By 2019, they were legally single, but the divorce continued. Their children, now aged 16 to 23, have been deeply affected.

Jeanne Wolf, a showbiz reporter, said, “It’s been a very emotional and complicated divorce settlement. It’s taken a big toll on the children and the couple involved.”

Angelina’s lawyer said “This 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.”