Now Magazine | All the celebrity gossip
  • 10 November 2009
  • Goodtoknow-network-site
Madonna at 50
Madonna & Guy Ritchie wed in 2000

Madonna and Guy granted preliminary divorce

Superstar couple are divorced just a month after announcing separation

Friday, 21 November 2008

It's official! (Almost.)

Just one month after announcing their split, Madonna and Guy Ritchie were granted a preliminary "quickie divorce" Friday in the High Court of London.

According to a document released by the court, 50-year-old Madonna – the petitioner – said in a sworn statement that she is divorcing Ritchie for his "unreasonable behavior."

In a court proceeding that took all of one minute, the judge issued a decree nisi – the first step in the U.K.'s two-stage divorce process – to "Ciccone ML" and "Ritchie GS" and 16 other (non-celebrity) couples.

Neither Madonna or her director ex attended the hearing. In fact, even their attorneys skipped the courtroom.

It's known as "quickie divorce" because if there are no disputes in the next six weeks and one day, the couple's split will become decree absolute.

Guy Speaks Out
Ritchie, 40, who has been working in London on the set of his new movie Sherlock Holmes, seemed relieved by the speedy resolution.

He reportedly told the Daily Mirror late on Thursday, "It was never about money – never about her bloody art collection. I just wanted to settle it and move on."

He added to the paper, "I didn't raise any objections at any stage until she insisted the children lived permanently in New York." (According to British press reports, the settlement calls for sons Rocco, 8, and David, 3, to split time between the U.S. and London. Madonna's 12-year-old daughter Lourdes – whose father is the New York-based Carlos Leon – will live with her mother.)

Madonna's representative in the U.K. declined to comment.

Rate this!

  1. Not bad
  2. Okay
  3. Good
  4. Great
  5. Excellent

 

Star rating:Rating-3-star

  • IPC Media Limited, owner of nowmagazine.co.uk, will collect the address of the recipient solely to process your requests.

  • Print this article

Comments

Be the first to add a comment

Add a comment

* required fields

Now magazine will not publish anything which is defamatory, offensive, or illegal. Email nowonline@ipcmedia.com to complain about any comments

IPC Media Limited, owner of nowmagazine.co.uk, will collect your personal information solely to process your request.

Top videos

I am a
Aged to Postcode
Member log in or Register here

Feeds_celebritypeoplephotos

Latest poll

Should Sienna Miller take love-rat Jude Law back?

Poll
  • Yes, it's meant to be! (24%)
  • No, once a cheater always a cheater! (76%)



More on Now...

morrissey

SEE VIDEO Morrissey walks off stage after being hit

Fan in crowd launches drink at singer

Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas - a love story in pictures| Pictures | Now Magazine | Celebrity Gossip

SEE PICS Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas - a love story

As the couple announce their split, see their romance in pictures...

H&M| Shop of the week| Now magazine| Celebrity Gossip

Shop of the week: H&M

Jimmy Choo for H&M launches this weekend

Kym Marsh | Pictures | Now Magazine | Celebrity Spy | Celebrity Gossip

Kym Marsh 'scared' of trying for another baby

Star would want to be closely monitored

Cheryl Cole | Pictures | Now Magazine | Celebrity Gossip

Copy Cheryl Cole's hair and make-up

Steal The X Factor judge's style



goodtoknow Pick Me Up What's on TV