Brad Pitt tentatively wins joint custody of children with Angelina Jolie

A judge has granted Brad Pitt joint custody of his kids with ex-wife Angelina Jolie — tentatively, at least.

The "tentative decision" was reported Wednesday by Page Six and confirmed by NBC News, and Page Six noted it came after Pitt had been fighting with Jolie in court for joint custody for almost five years. The two have six children together, five of whom are underage, and the new arrangement "tentatively splits Pitt's legal custody equally with his ex-wife," NBC News writes.

"Brad was just trying to have more time with his kids — and it has been clear that Angie has done everything possible to prevent this," a source told Page Six. Another source told the outlet that "joint custody is not the issue that Angelina objects to, there were other issues of concern, but the court proceedings are closed and sealed."

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Jolie filed for divorce in 2016 after Pitt was alleged to have been abusive toward his son Maddox Jolie-Pitt on a flight, Page Six notes. He was never charged. Jolie in a filing previously criticized Judge John Ouderkirk for reportedly not allowing her children to testify and "excluding her evidence relevant to the children's health, safety, and welfare, evidence critical to making her case," The Associated Press reported. Pitt's attorneys said the judge "conducted an extensive proceeding over the past six months in a thorough, fair manner."

While the judge's joint custody decision was tentative, TMZ wrote that "typically tentative rulings are just a formality before they become final." But according to Page Six, Jolie previously went to an appellate court in an attempt to disqualify Ouderkirk, and the court has not yet issued a ruling. "If that bid comes to fruition," Page Six says, "his ruling may be tossed out."