Wednesday, 8 November 2006

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Britney Spears files for divorce

After two years, the pop star moves to end her marriage to Kevin Federline

Britney Spears has filed for divorce from her husband of two years, Kevin Federline, PEOPLE has confirmed.

L.A. Superior Court spokesperson Pat Kelly tells PEOPLE, "Yes, it's confirmed. It was filed today, on the grounds of irreconcilable differences." TMZ.com was the first to report the filing.

Spears and Federline wed in September 2004 and have two sons, Sean Preston, 1, and Jayden James, who was born Sept. 12.

According legal documents filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles, Spears seeks custody of both boys, with Federline getting visitation rights.

Spears gives a separation date of Monday. She asks that each party pay their own legal fees and waives her right to spousal support. She also requests that certain assets, including "miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects," be confirmed as separate property.

She and Federline, 28, both spent the weekend in New York City, but Spears did not appear at any of the events promoting Federline's new CD, Playing with Fire.

Still, on Friday night at his record release party at the Manhattan hot spot Stereo, Federline shot down rumors of strife in his marriage, telling PEOPLE, "I don't waste any energy thinking about these things. I don't get caught up in it."

But the previous week, he admitted that, because of his touring schedule, "I'm not going to see my family as much as I want to, but I mean, those are the sacrifices you make as an artist."

Britney has rarely been spotted out with her husband over the last six weeks. Here's a look at the couple's separate lives:

• Sept. 12: Spears gives birth to her second son with Federline, Jayden James. Two days later, their son Sean Preston turns 1.

• Oct. 12: Federline tells Extra his "children come first."

• Oct. 15: Spears makes her first post-baby public outing – to L.A.'s trendy Planet Blue Boutique – looking sleek and fit in low-slung jeans, a fitted sweater vest and peep-toe pumps.

• Oct. 16: Federline makes an appearance at the WWE Monday Night RAW event at L.A.'s Staples Center, where wrestler John Cena slams the would-be rapper onto the canvas amid a chorus of boos from the crowd.

• Oct. 18: Spears – sans Kevin – heads to Las Vegas to work on her own album and enjoy some downtime. She catches the midnight show at Pure Nightclub's Pussycat Dolls Lounge, and the next day grooves until the early wee hours with a gal pal and two male dancers at the Venetian's Tao.

• Oct. 31: Federline's debut album, Playing with Fire, is released. Spears skips his promotional appearance that evening, but later turns up at his release party in Hollywood wearing a pink wig and oversized sunglasses.

• Nov. 2-4: Federline hits New York City to promote his album. He appears on MTV's Total Request Live, attends a party for designer Tom Ford's new fragrance, hosts another album release party and plays a show – all without Spears.

• Nov. 6: Spears shows off her svelte figure during a brief surprise appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman.

• Nov. 7: Spears files for divorce at Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences.

• Nov. 7 Just hours after news breaks of her divorce filing, a smiling Spears dines out at New York's Baldorios with four pals.