Celebrity Justice
Reese Files Divorce Petition

Reese Witherspoon has officially filed for divorce from estranged husband Ryan
Phillippe.

Reese docs

TMZ obtained Witherspoon's divorce petition, in which the actress is asking the court for joint legal custody of the couple's two children. Reese is asking for primary physical custody.

Witherspoon is asking the judge to block any attempt on Phillippe's part to get spousal support.

Reese is asking the judge to allow her "exclusive use of the family residence."

As TMZ reported, the couple does not have a prenup, which means earnings during the marriage will be divided 50/50.

The couple was married for seven years. They met at Reese's 21st birthday party.

Witherspoon lists the date of separation as October 30, citing "irreconcilable differences."

TMZ broke the story on October 30 that Witherspoon separated from Phillippe.



Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Break-Ups

Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 2) | 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. This is kinda sad, yet if that a** cheated then he deserves to lose a great woman.

Posted at 7:45PM on Nov 8th 2006 by Mandy

2. Something seems off here. Reese Witherspoon, if I'm not mistaken, has never legally changed her name to Reese Witherspoon, it is Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon so I find it surprising it's not under that, actually come to think about it, Ryan's first name is Matthew.

Seems odd, that's all.

Posted at 8:39PM on Nov 8th 2006 by tiffany

3. borrrriiiingggg....rather read the latest scoop on our girl Britney. I bet Ryan is really happy some of the publicity is off him, with the new high profile divorce...

Posted at 9:04PM on Nov 8th 2006 by lila grace

4. its sad that an picture perfect marriage like theres would end. especially w/ accusations of him cheating. it seems no that britney spears is divorcing nobody can ever have a relationship anymore. good luck to the rest of us.

Posted at 10:18PM on Nov 8th 2006 by fe

5. lil grace im with you on this one
this is boring all the smut from the britney kevin divorce is WAY more interesting and i wonder why she chose this time when britney is the focus of the media it takes some of the pressure of their mess

Posted at 10:48PM on Nov 8th 2006 by mayan

6. kinda sad.. was hoping that maybe they would work things out eventually.. but that doesn't seem like it's going to happen now.. Reese and ryan are adults.. so i'm sure they will be ok.. but I don't know how well their kids will handle it...divorce is hard to understand when you're a kid.. If the rumours are true.. ryan is a very , very stupid man.

Posted at 12:43AM on Nov 9th 2006 by bellabear

7. That's a good point, Tiffany. Did Ryan cheat with a girl (heterosexual sex) or a boy (homosexual sex)? I'm not trying to be mean or anything. I was just wondering. Even though he seemed to be emasculated, they seemed to have a good marriage going on.

Posted at 4:02AM on Nov 9th 2006 by Jake Burbage

8. Haven't there been rumors of their marriage falling apart for some time now?? I seem to recall over the last couple of years that magazines would report that their marriage was in trouble. So when I heard of the divorce I wasn't completely shocked. It is sad though, mainly for the kids. They are being taken out of their lifestyle that they are accustomed to. That is just not fair. If Ryan did cheat then that is wrong. I hope that the children don't suffer.

Posted at 8:55AM on Nov 9th 2006 by Pam

9. For God's sake, he's getting half of all the money she's made, I really don't think spousal support is necessary. Must be nice, he's going to end up even more wealthy and he didn't do anything to earn it. Gee if he would have hung on for a couple more years, think what he would get.

Posted at 9:49AM on Nov 9th 2006 by sammyjo

10. Jake Burbage, here's pics of Abbie Cornish, whom Ryan reportedly cheated on Reese with

Posted at 10:52AM on Nov 9th 2006 by Paula Neal Mooney

11. No. 10 agree
Reese' is showing her intelligence.
I hope she gets every request from that divorce papers. He should get nothing from her, no spouscel support, no house, nothing, he has been cheating on her for years. And the last statement from him was so call, lets get this over with. He didnt even have the dignity to refer to it as a marriage let alone the children. He looks bisexual anyway and a big time looser.

Posted at 11:14AM on Nov 9th 2006 by audrey rose

12. So sad to hear about that. I hope that they will continue to be gracious and civil during the divorce for their kids sake and each other. It is a painful time for them. Will think and pray for them to get through this.

Posted at 11:28AM on Nov 9th 2006 by Jill

13. If this is true it is too bad they couldn't work things out. If cheating was behind it... that is hard to work through. Divorce is absolutly devistating to children. I hope both parents realize this before going through with the divorce. Best of luck to them.

Posted at 12:05PM on Nov 9th 2006 by Sharon ~ NY

14. #2, the couple could have legally changed their names individually in court a long time ago. And they knew their divorce papers would become public so they used their second names, instead of their birth names. But who knows.

I think they were stupid for not signing a prenup. So, everyone, don't get caught up in love or get manipulated, and sign your prenups!

I do not think Ryan should get any spousal support or 50% of anything of Reese's bank account. Whether or not he cheated. He can make his own money.

I knew this relationship would never last. Young couples are so stupid sometimes. But they don't care. They want to enjoy life at the moment instead of being smart about things. And Hollywood stars, they live a carefree life. So, they don't care if they'll end up in divorce. They don't think about the consequences. Everything is spur of the moment. 'Let's have kids now! Who cares if they'll be affected by mommy and daddy's foolish hearts later.' Divorce has become such the norm, that people think, 'Oh well, Kids can cope with it.' It's a heartbreaking thing.

Ryan should have thought about his kids. How cheating on their mother would affect his family. Kids are more important than some sexual encounter. But Ryan must have been really miserable in the relationship for him to go cheat on Reese. But many husbands and fathers and wives and mothers have major problems in their relationships, but you have to learn to live with it and not be so selfsh and weak. That's why I'm so proud of my father. He's a hero to me. My parents had alot of problems but they stuck through it and now they're close to retirement and happy together. They're gonna be great grandparents. In every love, there are problems. There will always be problems in love. But you just don't give up. You try and figure out a way to work things out. Some people don't realize the possibility of that because they think it would just lead to a miserable life. That's not true.

Posted at 1:10PM on Nov 9th 2006 by Mischa

15. How can celebrities file divorce papers so soon? Did the 6-month minimum separation law change when I had my back turned? Or are they granted specialcelebrity leave like they are in adoption processes?

Posted at 2:38PM on Nov 9th 2006 by cyn

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