Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, filed for divorce on Friday from the Los Angeles Lakers star, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
According to court documents filed in the Orange County Superior Court, Vanessa Bryant will be represented by high-profile divorce lawyer Laura Wasser — who has previously worked for Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian — and attorney Samantha Klein.
Vanessa Bryant, in her petition, requested joint custody of the couple’s two daughters — eight-year-old Natalia Diamante and five-year-old Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant.
A statement released by a representative for the couple said a final judgment would be filed with the Orange County court next year, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“The Bryants have resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately with the assistance of counsel and a judgment dissolving their marital status will be entered in 2012,” the statement said.
“We ask that in the interest of our young children and in light of the upcoming holiday season the public respect our privacy during this most difficult time.”
Kobe Bryant has earned roughly $200 million — not including endorsements — during his 15-year career with the Lakers, but may have to give up half of his assets as part of a divorce settlement, as the couple are not believed to have signed a prenuptial agreement, TMZ reported.
The filing of the documents comes more than eight years after Vanessa Bryant stuck by the basketballer when he was accused of sexually assaulting a Colorado woman. The case was dropped when his accuser refused to testify, but the former league MVP admitted being unfaithful to his wife and settled a civil suit filed by the woman.
Unnamed sources told the celebrity news website that Vanessa Bryant was filing for divorce because she believed her husband had been unfaithful again.
“She’s been dealing with these incidents for a long time and has been a faithful wife, but she’s finally had enough,” one source said. “This one is the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
The couple married in California in April, 2001, when Kobe Bryant was 22 and his bride was just 18.