By Diana Dasrath and Doha Madani - NBC News
Actor Brad Pitt was granted joint custody of his five minor children with his ex-wife, actress Angelina Jolie, in a tentative ruling, sources confirmed to NBC News, Telemundo's sister network, on Wednesday.
Pitt, who separated from Jolie in 2016, received a request to adjust the current custody arrangement to allow her more time with her children, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
The new agreement tentatively divides Pitt's legal custody equally with that of his ex-wife.
Court documents in the ongoing custody dispute were sealed from the public record in 2017 due to concerns for minors.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Maleficent premiere in London on August 5, 2014. Justin Tallis / PA Images via Getty Images file
Pitt's attorneys filed a motion Monday in support of a sealed custody order, requesting notification to the court that Judge John W. Odenkirk “has conducted an extensive procedure over the past six months in a thorough and fair manner and has reached a tentative decision and order after hearing from experts and hearing witnesses. "
The motion was made to "correct" the record against "factual and legal inaccuracies" made by Jolie's legal team in opposition.
A third source familiar with the matter
emphasized that the ruling was tentative
and that joint custody was not the main issue that Jolie opposed, and said she will continue her legal fight.
Neither Jolie nor Pitt's attorneys immediately responded to requests for comment from NBC News on Wednesday.
The ex-partner shares six children together: Maddox, Pax and Zahara, who were adopted, in addition to biological children Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne, although Maddox is no longer a minor and is not subject to the custody agreement.
Jolie said in an interview with Vogue last year that
she parted ways with Pitt for the well-being of her family.
Actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt speak at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 8, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Al Bello / Getty Images
"It was the right decision," he
said.
“I continue to focus on her healing.
Some have taken advantage of my silence and children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own mind.
In fact, they are six very brave, very strong young people ”.
Pitt didn't open up much about the decision to quit drinking and smoking marijuana in a 2017 interview with GQ, but he told the magazine that he just didn't
"want to live that way
anymore
."
"For me, every misstep has been a step toward epiphany, understanding, some kind of joy," he said at the time.
"Yes, avoiding pain is a real mistake. It is the real loss of life."
