Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt Agree On Temporary Custody Arrangements Even As Jolie Prepares For Battle
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have agreed to a temporary child custody deal that will be in force for three weeks according to a report in L.A Times. The deal was set up by L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) covering all of the couple's six children.
The deal is a voluntary one and not enforced by court or any other authority. According to TMZ, the DCFS gave the couple the option of either agreeing to a deal or go to court over it. Both agreed to the deal suggested by DCFS.
Under the deal, Jolie will have physical custody while Pitt has visitation rights. Sources familiar with the matter have said that both have agreed to undergo individual counselling. They will also attend family counselling session with their children. Pitt has offered to submit to tests for drug and alcohol but that was deemed unnecessary.
A therapist is required to be present for Pitt's first meeting with the children, who will then decide if a therapist is needed for all further meeting.
"She is only concerned with the health and safety of her children, that is how she feels at this moment," a source with knowledge said of Jolie's intentions.
After this period DCFS will reevaluate the situation and decide on further course of action.
In the meanwhile, Jolie taking all steps to ensure that she has the right support for the upcoming custody battle. A report in Hollywood Life states that she has further hired two expert lawyers, Bert Fields and Pierce O'Donnell. This is in addition to Jolie's divorce attorney Laura Wasser. O'Donnell has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America by the National Law Journal.
Jolie has also hired a crisis manager to handle the situation. Judy Smith, famed to be inspiration for the hit series Scandal's Olivia Pope, has been hired by Jolie as the proceedings for the divorce and custody get underway, and there are chances of them becoming ugly.
