The confusion over Hollywood's former power couple Brangelina child custody clash seems to be getting more bizarre. Contrary to the claims of the 'Maleficent' actress' rep that the couple had reached a settlement over the vexed issue, people in the know of things said otherwise.
"We can confirm that child care professionals have encouraged a legal agreement accepted and signed by both sides over a week ago," Page Six quoted a statement issued by Jolie's rep on Nov. 7, Monday. The statement added that the estranged couple's six children would be staying in Jolie's custody, Pitt will have the rights to visit them.
While the statement claimed that child care professionals have decided on this in the best interest of the children, he refused to discuss the issue in details. The rep's statement went on to say that everyone concerned is steadfast on healing the family and requested others to consider the family's problems in their difficult time.
However, if sources are to be believed, neither Jolie nor Pitt has signed any new agreement and the issue is unlikely to be resolved soon. The present agreement is just an extension of the already existing, entirely voluntary and provisional understanding between the two parties; the website quoted an anonymous source as saying.
The source further told the publication that the statement issued by Jolie rep does not make any sense since Pitt has already filed for joint custody on Nov. 4, Friday, in LA Superior Court, days after the purported 'new' agreement. In fact, no child-care adviser of any kind was involved with this decision in any way, the source added.
Pitt would continue to his legal battle gaining the joint legal and physical custody of the children, Us Weekly quoted sources close to Pitt as saying. That Pitt has filed a suit for the joint custody of the children itself suggests that he would not give up his fight, the sources added.
Both Jolie and Pitt are saying the same things, but in different ways, Christopher Melcher, a family lawyer based in California, told the publication. According to him, Jolie rep's statement that the couple reached a legally binding agreement, and Pitt's statement that it was a temporary one are both "consistent concepts," lawyer said adding one can make a binding agreement, but it is temporary and easy to change.
Such agreements are usually made in the early stage of a dispute to allow them time to allow things to settle down and see how things work, However, such agreements can be changed any time by either party, Melcher added.
Watch what led to Brangelina split: