Frances Gibb, Legal Editor
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Alpha Mummy: Can you really 'share' children?
Guy Ritchie is expected to take not a penny from Madonna in an effort to avoid unseemly public wrangling over their divorce.
The film director, believed to be worth about £30 million, and the singer, whose fortune is estimated at about ten times that amount, are to be divorced in the High Court in London today. Their case — Ciccone M. L. v Ritchie G. S. — is listed before District Judge Reid under the “quickie” procedure.
In what lawyers yesterday praised as a model divorce, their decree nisi is to be announced at 10am in Court 10 of the Principal Registry of the High Court’s Family Division.
The hearing is likely to last a matter of minutes and neither party is expected to attend.
Madonna and Ritchie have agreed arrangements for their children. Their two boys — Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, are likely to split their time between Britain and the US. Lourdes, 12, Madonna’s child from an earlier relationship, will remain with her.
On hearing the news that the case was due to be dealt with today, Ritchie told the Daily Mirror: “Thank God. It dragged on much too long and that had nothing to do with me. But it was never ever about money.”
Lawyers praised the speed with which the couple had sorted out their affairs and the lack of public acrimony. Joe Vaitilingam, of the family law firm Hughes Fowler Carruthers, said: “If the figures are correct, then Guy Ritchie may well have walked away with substantially less than he was legally entitled to.
“However, the agreement does demonstrate that with commitment on both sides the impact of any divorce, high profile or otherwise, can be minimised for both the parties involved and more importantly their children.
“This is the epitome of how a divorce should be done and it is clearly what both Guy and Madonna wanted.”
Margaret Hatwood, of the law firm Thomas Eggar LLP, said: “They have undoubtedly saved much money in legal costs and have not had to suffer the sort of public scrutiny that the McCartneys went through.”
Ritchie would be following in the footsteps of Billie Piper, who was also praised widely for walking away from her marriage to Chris Evans without taking any of his cash.

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Fantastic for her - she earned every penny; however, there seems to be a bit of a double standard .. if he had all the money she would of went for half! - Madonna is an iconic american figure - hard word = almost $1 Billion net worth - good for her for keeping her money!
jack, shawnee, united states
Madonna comes off as a total shrew, greedy, manipulative, bitter, and most of all, aging ungracefully. She can keep her money, but it will not buy her youth or happiness.
Guy, on the other hand, comes across as a class act. Good on him.
Esteban, Bangkok, Thailand
I don't know if leaving those kids with that whacko is a prudent decision. She makes my teeth itch.
John R, New York, USA
She looks so much nicer with clothes on. Don't be mad with her-she's a real showgirl.
DK, LA, usa
Jane in Nottingham, those children have grown up to the ages they are already by being split between two countries and two parents a lot of the time. It probably won't be much different for them. Plus Guy and Madonna are smart enough to make this amicable. You are always so negative.
Sue , Miami Beach , USA
Bearing witness to an unhappy marriage benefits no child
Emmett, Harrison Township, USA
At last, something good came out of the McCartney/Mills divorce: it showed other famous couples how to have an amicable divorce and think of the kids instead of themselves.
Franziska, Sevenoaks,
Heather Mills should take note of this. Interesting how when it's the woman who is rich, the man does the right thing isn't it?
Paul, London, England
Now he can marry an attractive woman.
don sandiego, e lcajon, usa
As ever, the children are the victims here. How can they sensibly divide their time between two countries, see enough of each parent to feel loved, receive a stable education, have a sense of where "home" is. The children will feel this pain so deeply. I hope their parents listen.
Jane, Nottingham, UK
Who gives.....anyway, concentrate on proper news
sean, Dubai, UAE
I've always gotten the impression that he's a man of dignity. I'm sure living with her and her fame was no day in the park. The boys SHOULD live, the majority of their time, with their father and they will certainly get a better education in Britain, especially since the oldest has started out there
Heidi C, Boston, USA
Good luck to them in making this work. Hopefully Madonna will let Lourdes see Guy too if she wants to though.
Kelly, Edinburgh,
Showbiz people tell us who to vote for etc. they can't even keep their own lifes together.
Missy, L.A., USA
He should have made sure his kids were set up with her money so she doesn't pull something in later years if she gets mad about something. Although too much money is probably a bad thing for the kids anyway.
LK, Springfield, USA
He did the wise thing - kids are more important than money and if push came to shove, he knew the odds would have been stacked against him as the father.
RP, London,
What a relief. They've spared us all a season of celebrity nonsense. More importantly, they've spared their children any more heart ache.
Sean K, Merced, CA, USA
Good boy - be proud to shake your hand Mr Ritchie. Kids are far more important than money.
James, Glasgow,
Well done to both of them for achieving a good outcome for them and their kids.
paul, maidenhead,
I always thought Guy Ritchie is a class act -can't say the same for his soon-to-be ex. 30 million is nothing to sneeze at and is certainly more than enough money. It was was very cool of him not to bleed Madonna dry, though frankly, I think he would be deserving of it.
Viva, Richmond, VA, USA
do I detect the onset of sensibility among the newly rich?
robert, vancouver, bc
Mr. Ritchie has proven himself to be a class act, putting the children's interests first in this terrible situation. I wish them all well.
Francie, Lake Worth, USA
The decisions they make now, will determine their children's future stability and happyness.
It's so much better to say to them, that the 2 don't get on anymore, but still love the kids, and they will be better friends after this has blown over - then the kids wont blame themselves for the divorce.
Craig, Newcastle, UK