John Ouderkirk, a private judge engaged to handle the case, decided in Mr. Pitt's favour. He awarded Brad Pitt as joint custody of children with Angelina Jolie. According to the Press Association, the verdict will "significantly increase" his time with the kids.
Pax 17, Zahara 16, Shiloh 14, and 12-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox are the children of Mr. Pitt, 57, and Ms. Jolie, 45. 19-year-old Maddox, the oldest child, is not affected by the custody ruling.
It was reported that Ms. Jolie had not objected to joint custody, but that there were "other issues of concern."
Another source reported the trial lasted many months and included a significant number of witnesses, specialists, and therapists. Ms. Jolie has slammed the judge for refusing to let their children testify in custody proceedings.
Ms. Jolie filed for divorce citing "irreconcilable differences," and the couple was entangled in a nasty child custody fight in the months after the announcement. After losing his cool in front of several of the kids, Mr. Pitt was investigated for alleged child abuse, but the claims were eventually dropped.
Mr. Pitt's second marriage (he previously married Jennifer Aniston from Friends) and Ms. Jolie's third, following actors Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller.
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Ms. Jolie told Vogue last year that she left Mr. Pitt for her family's "well-being."
"It was the right decision," Ms Jolie said. "I continue to focus on their healing."
In a 2017 exclusive interview, Mr. Pitt discussed his intention to stop drinking and smoking marijuana.
He said, "For me every misstep has been a step toward epiphany, understanding, some kind of joy".