Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie divorce news: Former couple release joint statement to keep divorce proceedings private

(Reuters/Mario Anzuoni)Happier times: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the premiere of "Salt."

The divorce of Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, collectively dubbed Brangelina, has been messy, to say the least. But after months of back and forth, the former couple have finally released a joint statement on their decision to "act as a united front" by keeping their divorce proceedings confidential.

PEOPLE managed to acquire the statement released by one of Hollywood's most glamorous couples. "The parties and their counsel have signed agreements to preserve the privacy rights of their children and family by keeping all court documents confidential and engaging a private judge to make any necessary legal decisions and to facilitate the expeditious resolution of any remaining issues," the statement reads.

After staying together for 12 years, the couple called it quits in September 2016 and subsequently filed for divorce. This was followed by intense media and public attention, especially when their court filings turned nasty.

Just last week, Jolie had a court filing claiming that Pitt had ulterior motives in wanting to keep court documents private. Pitt previously filed a motion to seal court documents related to the former couple's temporary custody agreement. And, according to Entertainment Tonight, Jolie accused Pitt of being "terrified that the public will learn the truth" if the documents weren't kept private.

In Pitt's motion, the actor claims that Jolie was ignoring their children's "privacy rights when she believes it may benefit her. He believes that she had "exposed the children by making public the names of their therapist and other mental health professionals."

But it seems that the dust has finally settled as the pair have made the mutual decision to employ a private judge and keep all documents relating to their divorce confidential.

Pitt and Jolie have six children together. And they have always made it clear that the well-being of their children — Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8 — is of utmost priority.

More news and updates on Brad and Angelina should arrive soon.

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