Divorce: What Pennsylvania couples can learn from Brad and Angelina

Celebrity divorce generates attention like no other, so the avalanche of media coverage since Angelina Jolie filed divorce papers against Brad Pitt in California on September 19 is no surprise. Thanks to the Los Angeles Times, the Divorce Complaint has been made public, so it’s possible to look at the actual, written record instead of relying on tabloid articles.

Just the facts, Ma’am. – The first thing that strikes me about the Jolie-Pitt Complaint is how straightforward and simple it is. This savvy Hollywood couple knows well that saying little is often the best way to control media coverage. Jolie, through her lawyer, sticks to simple facts.

It’s no one’s fault. – The Complaint asks for divorce citing irreconcilable differences; California, like Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, meaning one party does not need to prove bad acts by another to obtain a divorce.

Deal with it later. – The Complaint raises the issue of equitable distribution without detail, indicating that asset division will be dealt with later. In Pennsylvania, raising equitable distribution in the initial Complaint is also a typical way to be sure a spouse’s rights as to asset division are preserved for a later date.

Who gets the kids? – The Complaint lists all six children of the Jolie-Pitt marriage with both spouses as parents, thereby eliminating worries about treating one child differently from the others. That Jolie and Pitt adopted some of their children is well publicized. Jolie’s Complaint clarifies that each parent has equal legal rights to each child, establishing for the Court that they are to be treated as a unit in custody discussions. The emotional benefit to children of divorce sticking together as a family unit is well-researched and documented.

What’s in a home? – Interestingly, the Complaint asks for full physical custody of the children for Jolie with visitation rights for Pitt, and shared legal custody by both parents of all the kids. The gossip media have made much of this, suggesting that Jolie is going to present evidence that one or more of the children are physically or emotionally unsafe around their father. However, custody arrangements take all kinds of forms, based on the abilities of both parents to provide a stable home environment. Assuming that a request for full physical custody means improper behavior on the part of the other parent is premature.

Keep it simple – Perhaps the best advice Pennsylvania couples can extract from the Brangelina Divorce Complaint is the absence of detail, and the obvious effort to maintain privacy. Bucks County couples may not have to worry about news cameras camped outside their door, but certainly there are any number of people – family members, friends, co-workers – who may ask about your divorce. Preparing your own “press statement,” or standard reply such as “we are getting a divorce and it is difficult, thank you for asking,” can help shut down unwanted inquiries.