Who is Angelina Jolie’s Divorce Lawyer?
Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from husband Brad Pitt after two years of marriage and ten years together. According to entertainment site TMZ, Jolie wants sole custody of their six children.
Jolie will be represented by Hollywood divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who previously assisted Jolie during her split from Billy Bob Thornton. With an impressive list of celebrity clients under her belt, Laura Wasser is no doubt a popular choice for any celebrity seeking legal counsel.
Laura Wasser
Angelina jolie’s divorce lawyer
Laura Wasser is one of the world’s most sought-after and successful family lawyers. Her client list includes Hollywood’s biggest stars, from Stevie Wonder to Kim Kardashian to Britney Spears. Additionally, Laura represented Johnny Depp during his contentious split from Amber Heard as well as Maria Shriver during her separation from former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
She was raised in Beverly Hills, where her father Dennis was often called upon to handle high-profile splits among his elite peers. At 16 years old, she clerked for him and quickly realized that it was something she wanted to pursue professionally.
After earning her law degree, she began working at her father’s firm and has remained there ever since. She currently resides in Malibu, California with her two young sons and serves on the advisory board for Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law.
When it comes to celebrity divorces, she prefers the case be settled quietly and amicably. While she has handled some high-profile cases that were publicized after the fact, she finds most satisfaction in helping her clients resolve their affairs outside the spotlight of news media attention.
Bloomberg magazine reported that her strategy helps limit the amount of information posted on sites like TMZ and other gossip blogs. It also appeases image-conscious clients and their managers, who would rather not be restricted by media appetite for celebrity rumor that could damage a career.
Balancing personal privacy with the need to shape public perceptions about a star's split can be challenging, which in turn affects their careers. That's why she encourages her clients to settle their cases before submitting official documents which could generate further media coverage.
She often advises her clients to avoid leaks that could harm their reputations or lead others to believe false claims, such as accusations of abuse. This tactic is becoming increasingly popular, she notes, since it gives the wealthy star more leverage when negotiating a fair settlement.
She has also created the It’s Over Easy online DIY platform, which guides spouses through the process of divorce settlement. The site provides downloadable forms and other tools so spouses can file for an uncontested divorce and resolve child custody, spousal support and other legal matters without needing to hire an attorney.
However, it's essential to remember that while this type of DIY strategy can save people money, they still require professional assistance in some way or another. Divorce attorneys are invaluable assets during the legal process and ensure you receive your fair share of assets; however, be wary of bad attorneys who may tack on extra fees or take advantage of your incapacity to resolve issues without legal assistance.
Samantha Bley Dejean
Angelina Jolie has decided not to continue working with celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser and instead is working with Samantha Bley Dejean. According to a source, the actress chose the San Fransisco-based attorney because of her expertise in child protection matters.
Jolie is believed to be taking an increasingly assertive stance in order to win custody of her kids from estranged husband Brad Pitt. She wants “kill any relationship” with him and is placing their safety in her hands.
She has reportedly stated her desire for a fair settlement. She would reportedly like to see 50-50 distribution of their six children, including Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Vivienne and Knox.
The Hollywood star has been embroiled in an extended custody battle since her split from Pitt in 2016. According to her latest filing, the Maleficent actor has not paid meaningful child support for one and a half years – something his attorney denied in court documents.
Jolie is not content with taking her battle to court; in fact, she’s even trying to have Judge John W. Ouderkirk removed from the case altogether.
Jolie contends the judge has a history of favoring Pitt. She points to cases in which Ouderkirk has been compensated by Pitt’s attorney on other matters, and she maintains Jolie cannot rely on his impartiality in her custody case.
In August 2020, the Girl, Interrupted star filed papers asking that Ouderkirk be removed from overseeing their divorce case. She claimed the judge hadn’t disclosed Pitt and his legal team’s “ongoing business and professional relationships,” making it difficult for her to receive a fair trial.
Though there isn’t much evidence to back up her assertion, it does appear she could have a point. Unfortunately, the fact that she’s challenging Ouderkirk’s impartiality in this manner may put her even more in an untenable position.
She is a member of the California Bar and has been certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Additionally, she serves on multiple family law panels and lectures for continuing legal education classes.
Samantha is a successful attorney, mother to two children and happily married after 10 years together.
Samantha Bley Dejean is a principal at Bley and Bley, a law firm that specializes in complex marital dissolutions. For several years she has been named to Super Lawyers by San Francisco Magazine and consistently receives excellent professional ratings from her colleagues.
She has a long-standing practice in high-asset, high-conflict dissolutions, having handled hundreds of cases throughout her career. Additionally, she is proficient in contested custody and visitation matters and holds a Certificate of Specialization in family law. Furthermore, she has served as panelist and instructor at numerous continuing legal education courses related to family law as well as having an impressive record representing clients during trials related to these matters.
Christopher C. Melcher
After more than a decade together, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have officially filed for divorce. The couple, affectionately known as Brangelina, have been the focus of intense media scrutiny ever since their separation. Now that the papers have been filed, we can learn a great deal about how the high-profile couple ended their union and how much money they will share moving forward.
Melcher, who practices family law out of his Woodland Hills law office in California, has been practicing this area of the law for three decades. He served on the Family Law Executive Committee of the State Bar of California and regularly lectures to continuing legal education groups about complex family law topics throughout California. Furthermore, he is a published author on California premarital agreements and financial issues in divorce.
Melcher has earned the distinction of Super Lawyer, an honor bestowed upon only a select few attorneys in each state. His practice encompasses complex litigation such as high-asset divorces and post-decree cases, in addition to premarital agreements.
As a divorce lawyer, he is frequently called upon to litigate and resolve complex matters such as alimony, property division, child support, parental responsibility and custody. Furthermore, he provides counseling and mediation services for clients going through difficult times.
As a celebrity divorce attorney, Melcher understands the critical need to keep clients’ personal lives out of the media spotlight. Leaking personal information to the press can be especially dangerous for celebrities in divorce cases; Melcher believes this strategy has been used against celebrities with disastrous results to their reputations.
