Reason why Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s divorce took 8 years to finalise

After eight years, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt - formerly known as 'Brangelina' - have finally reached a settlement in their divorce.

Pitt, 61, and Jolie, 49, split back in 2016, after Jolie filed for divorce citing 'irreconcilable differences'.

It later emerged that Jolie had accused Pitt of being abusive towards her and two of her children during a flight that year.

Pitt - who was allegedly investigated by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services over the incident - has denied the allegations and was not charged following a police probe.

Speaking about the settlement, Jolie's lawyer, James Simon told CBS News in a statement: "More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr Pitt.

"She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr Pitt.

"Since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family.

"This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago.

"Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over."

So, why has it taken so long?

According to family law attorney John Lambros, a number of circumstances over the last eight years have cultivated what he has described as the 'perfect storm'.

For example, Lambros says that the DCFS's involvement can slow down a case, especially when there are disagreements over custody and lots of back and forth that doesn't help 'move the case forward'.

Jolie first filed for divorce in 2016 (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)

While there was some progress in 2019 - in which a judge ruled that the pair were divorced and single, despite issues relating to assets and custody not yet resolved - Lambros explained that sometimes, this can also slow down a case.

“What does everybody want to do when you're in a divorce? You want to get divorced,” he told People.

“When you bifurcate that case and you grant them their divorce, well, a lot of the pressure of ‘I'm still married’ is gone.”

The couple's ongoing legal battle over a French winery they purchased when they were together has also dragged the settlement on.

Earlier this year, Pitt's lawyers accused Jolie of selling her shares of the business to Russian businessman Yuri Shefler, without his knowledge.

Meanwhile, legal documents said that following alleged abuse (which Pitt denies), he was 'so concerned about his own misconduct that he blew up his own deal to purchase Jolie’s interest in Miraval because she refused to agree to his new, expansive NDA'.

There was later an issue in 2021, in which the judge on the case, Judge Ouderkirk, was removed due to an 'ethical breach' - injuring the progression of the case further.

“Anytime there is an appellate procedure in a matter, you are going to reduce the speed,” said Lambros.

A number of factors slowed down the divorce (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)

Jolie and Pitt first met almost 20 years ago, when they starred together in the 2005 film, Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

The couple then started dating before later marrying in 2014. They share six children together - Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.