After selling their old mega-compound to Ryan Seacrest for $49 million, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are really downsizing ... into a cozy $18 million mid-century modern Beverly Hills estate.

In their new "modest" digs, Ellen & Portia will have to find a way to make due with 8,500 square feet featuring 4 bedrooms, 6 baths, a commercial kitchen, several patios and only one rectilinear swimming pool, according to The Real Estalker.

While their new crib is still ridiculously awesome -- the place has a tree in the middle of the living room --  the ladies will be packed in like A-list sardines compared to the 9,200 square foot mansion, 3 guest houses and 2.7 acres they just sold to the "American Idol" host.

Times are tough for everyone in this economy ... except Ryan Seacrest.

The woman arrested last month outside the home of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi pled no contest today to a charge of misdemeanor trespassing.


Karen Grace Sjoden was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to stay away from the home ... as well as Ellen, Portia, and one of Ellen's employees.

Sjoden was given credit for the 49 days she already served in jail.

A female intruder was arrested earlier this week for trespassing on the property of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, but never made contact with either.


A rep for the talk show host tells us, "The property is protected by a 24-hour security team that detected and detained the intruder until she was turned over to the custody of Beverly Hills police officers, who arrested her."

Portia de Rossi is no more ... at least in the name department ... because she's now officially known as Portia Lee James DeGeneres.



TMZ has learned a judge granted Portia's name change petition today in L.A. County Superior Court. She and Ellen DeGeneres got married in 2008.

We know "Lee" was Portia's original middle name, but "James" seems to be an added name. Hey, if you're already filing the paperwork ... why not?

TMZ has learned ... Portia de Rossi will become Portia DeGeneres.



Portia has filed a petition to legally change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres.  She filed the papers in L.A. County Superior Court last Friday.

As for why ... the petition says, "Petitioner is taking the last name of her spouse."

Portia and Ellen DeGeneres were married in August, 2008.

Name change petitions are routinely granted. 

We took your questions on everything -- including Mel Gibson's domestic violence case heading to the D.A., and Charlie Sheen claiming a "Train" song sparked his Aspen fight with Brooke Mueller.


Plus: Portia de Rossi filing to take Ellen DeGeneres' last name.