Brad Pitt prioritises having child with Ines de Ramon over marriage

• Brad Pitt reportedly wants to start a family with Ines de Ramon soon
• Twins Knox and Vivienne turn 18 next month, ending Pitt-Jolie custody agreement
• A source says Ramon has been "a rock" for Pitt through a difficult year

Brad Pitt is reportedly planning to start a family with girlfriend Ines de Ramon, with a source close to the actor saying having a child together is now his top priority — even as his relationships with several of his children with ex-wife Angelina Jolie remain strained.

The Formula One actor has been locked in a long-running legal dispute with Jolie since their 2016 separation. The former couple share six children, and in recent years several of them have publicly dropped the Jolie-Pitt surname in favour of Jolie alone. Closer Magazine reported the details, citing sources close to the situation.

Custody agreement nears its end

A significant legal milestone is approaching for the former couple. Their twins, Knox and Vivienne, are set to turn 18 next month, an age that will bring their custody agreement to a close and end both parents' legal responsibilities under US law.

Marriage plans and a missed moment in Greece

Despite the ongoing difficulties, a source told Closer Magazine that Pitt has not given up on the idea of marriage. "The legal system has been hell for Brad, he's still paying the price for his divorce so naturally that left a bad taste in his mouth. But he says he still believes in marriage and wants to marry Ines because it will make her happy," the source said.

The insider also revealed that an earlier opportunity to wed had come and gone. "There was some buzz that they were going to do it when they were in Greece on location for his last movie but then he didn't want to go through with it. Luckily Ines has been very patient, she's even said a private commitment ceremony would be fine by her rather than a big legal ceremony," the source added.

Starting a family is the priority

For now, the couple are said to be focused on something they consider more pressing than a wedding. "The one thing they don't want to wait on though is having a child. They would love that to happen as soon as possible. Starting a family with Ines is the priority for Brad over a wedding, and she is happy with that. She is very much in love and says Brad will be a wonderful dad," the source said.

The insider also noted that the relationship is far from a rushed one. "They've been together nearly four years now so it's not as though things are moving especially fast. Everyone in his life agrees that it's time to start getting serious about a baby if it's going to happen," they added.

'A rock' through a difficult year

Those close to Pitt describe the past year as particularly gruelling for the actor. Beyond the legal battle with Jolie and several of his children dropping his surname, Pitt also suffered the loss of his mother — a period the source described as going "through hell."

"There's almost no way to explain the toll it's taken on him, it's hard to imagine how he would have coped if Ines hadn't been there to support him," the source said, describing de Ramon as "a rock" who has stood by Pitt through "everything."