Wife of Lakers Star Kobe Bryant Files for Divorce

(NewsCore) - Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant already packed his bags and moved out of his California marital mansion in light of his pending divorce, TMZ reported Saturday.

Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce Friday in the Orange County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, and will get the sprawling Newport Coast estate as part of the divorce settlement already struck by the couple. Her estranged husband bought the home in 2001, the year the couple married. His current living arrangements are unknown.

Since the couple reportedly did not sign a prenuptial agreement, Vanessa Bryant could be entitled to half of his earnings -- an estimated $150 million in real estate, stocks, cash and assets -- since they married in April 2001, according to Californian property laws. At the time of their marriage, she was just 18, and the sports star was 22.

According to court documents, she is set to be represented by high-profile divorce lawyer Laura Wasser -- who has previously worked for Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian -- as well as attorney Samantha Klein.

Vanessa Bryant's 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.

The filing came more than eight years after Vanessa Bryant stuck by the basketball player 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.

Sources told TMZ that Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce because she believed that her husband had been unfaithful again.

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