Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe in happier times. File Photo / Reuters
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe in happier times. File Photo / Reuters
KEY POINTS:
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe are set for a custody battle over their two children.
Legally Blonde star Reese filed a divorce petition in November requesting primary custody of Ava, seven, and three-year-old Deacon, but now Ryan has filed a response seeking joint custody of their daughter andson.
According to E! News, who obtained copies of the court documents, Ryan requested for visitation rights to be "equally allocated".
The 32-year-old actor has not requested any spousal support from Reese who earns significantly more than her estranged husband as one of Hollywood's highest paid actresses.
The couple, who married in 1999, did not sign a prenuptial agreement meaning Ryan is legally entitled to 50 per cent of Reese's considerable fortune.
Documents show that both parties agreed on the cause of their marriage breakdown, with each citing "irreconcilable differences".
The pair met at Reese's 21st birthday party and later starred together in hit teen movie Cruel Intentions.
Since announcing their split in October, Oscar winner Reese has been romantically linked with actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who previously dated Kirsten Dunst.
