What Can We Learn from the Brad Pitt/Angela Jolie Divorce?
What are the lessons we can learn from the eight-year divorce of what used to be one of Hollywood’s hottest couples, Brad Pitt and Angela Jolie? You may not have their wealth or fame, but nearly every divorce is a potential multi-year mess if the parties work hard enough at it. The Rancho Cucamonga divorce Law Office of Taylor B. Warner, APLC, will discuss the issues they faced and how you can prevent them.
The Law Office of Taylor B. Warner, APLC’s Rancho Cucamonga divorce lawyers represent divorcing spouses and work to defend their rights while obtaining the best divorce outcome. Put our knowledge and experience to work for you. Call us today at (909) 466-5575 or complete our contact form and schedule an initial consultation so you can get the legal representation you need.
Why Did They Divorce? Why Did It Take So Long?
Why did a two-year marriage take eight years of legal fighting to end?
In 2003, the two worked on the same film, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, released in 2005, according to the BBC. They married in 2014, and Jolie filed for divorce in 2018. The two had a long relationship before getting married and had difficulties during that time. Jolie reportedly filed for divorce the day after a drunken Pitt allegedly attacked her and two of their children during a flight on a private plane. Jolie cited irreconcilable differences for the divorce and sought sole physical custody of their six children. In 2019, the two were declared legally single while the rest of their legal disputes continued.
The main issues prolonging the divorce were custody of their children and ownership of a French vineyard. The two bought the vineyard in 2008. She later sold her interest in it to a Russian businessman. Pitt claims that the sale was made without his consent, violating his contract with Jolie. The divorce settlement was announced in December. The only detail disclosed is that neither party will receive ongoing financial support from the other.
What Are the Lessons to be Learned?
- Your Child’s Well-Being
Pitt denies being violent, though he did admit to having a drinking problem after the alleged incident on the plane. Typically, an eight-year, traumatic, public custody dispute would not be in a child’s best interests. But if the other spouse is abusive, allowing them to have physical custody wouldn’t be in their best interests either. This can be a difficult issue that is sometimes resolved through supervised visitation. If that goes well, that parent may have more unsupervised time with their child. Of their six kids, only two are currently younger than 18 (they’re 16). Usually, child custody is an issue when kids are younger than 18.
- Long Court Battles
The parties disputed nearly every issue in their divorce. Most people lack the financial resources to fund a protracted legal battle and don’t want to spend their time and energy fighting one. Nearly all divorce cases settle through negotiations. If that doesn’t work, mediation and arbitration may be worth trying before resolving the disagreements in court.
- Family Business Decisions Shouldn’t Be Emotional
The couple’s winery became part of the battle. The fate of a family-owned business can be almost as emotional as child custody issues. This should be viewed as a business issue, not a family one, with as little emotion as possible. Solving the winery ownership dispute is not part of the divorce proceeding now and is ongoing.
- A Non-Disclosure Agreement May Be a Good Idea
Both parties accused each other of breaching non-disclosure agreements and airing their grievances to a public eager to learn about them. Divorce proceedings and filings are public documents. However, the parties can agree to limit disclosures to others (especially on social media) about all the details, gossip, and accusations. Even if you’re not a Hollywood power couple, keeping as much of the dispute to yourselves and your Rancho Cucamonga divorce attorney as possible can help keep emotions in check.
- Create Momentum When Settling Your Differences and Build on Them
Jolie and Pitt apparently couldn’t agree to much when the divorce started, and the situation didn’t improve much over time. Usually, spouses can agree on some, if not many, issues. A classic negotiation and mediation technique is to start resolving more minor and less important disputes and build momentum.
It’s a carrot-and-stick situation. The more issues you can put behind you, the more you lose if the process breaks down (the stick). Both sides need to act in good faith, and making progress helps build trust between the parties and can help put your marriage behind you (the carrot).
- The Divorce Process is an Expensive Way to Tear Each Other Apart
A major reason a divorce can drag out is that one or both parties aren’t emotionally mature enough to handle the situation. You may justifiably feel hurt and angry by how your spouse treated you, but that’s best addressed through professional counseling, not constant legal battles and scorched earth negotiation practices.
In the long run, it won’t do you any good and certainly won’t help your children. It could also add substantially to the cost of your divorce. No matter how much money you have, there are better ways to spend it.
Contact a Rancho Cucamonga Divorce Lawyer
A divorce can be a highly charged, emotional, and angry process that may drag on for years. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The attorneys at the Law Office of Taylor B. Warner, APLC, may find ways to protect your interests and rights without making your divorce stressful and expensive.
If your marriage is failing and you fear a prolonged legal battle, call the Rancho Cucamonga Divorce Law Office of Taylor B. Warner, APLC. Contact us online or call us today at 909-466-5575 to speak with a Rancho Cucamonga divorce attorney.
