Kevin Winter/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Now that you’ve had some time to process the Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt split, let’s break it down from a legal standpoint.
Jolie is requesting joint legal custody and sole physical custody of their six children. New York-based divorce lawyer Marcy Katz, who is not involved in the celebrity couple’s case, explains what exactly that means.
“Legal custody means decision-making — who has the right to decide where they’re going to go to school, which doctors they’re going to see, what religion they’re going to be raised,” she tells ABC Radio. “So what she is saying is she is willing to include Brad Pitt on those decisions. However, sole physical custody means she’s asking that the children only reside with her.”
Jolie did not ask for child support from Pitt, but, Katz notes, “maybe what they’ll do is divide what we call in New York at least add-on expenses, the education expenses, child care expenses. Who knows what the agreement will be for that. Basic child support covers food, clothing and shelter.”
Will Jolie and Pitt be able to quickly resolve their divorce case? There are a couple of factors that will determine that, according to Katz, including the custody issue.
“The real issue will be whether Brad Pitt agrees to this sole physical custody that she’s seeking,” she says. “That’s usually the biggest issue and the hardest thing to get resolved. So if that can get resolved, I’m sure the rest of it will be resolved pretty easily.”
Jolie filed for divorce Monday, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple had been together since 2004, and married in August of 2014.
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