Reese from Splitsville

Reese Witherspoon in a scene from Just Like Heaven (2005).

"Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe have separated. The couple's rep released a statement to TMZ Monday morning that says "We are saddened to announce that Reese & Ryan have decided to formally separate. They remain committed to their family and we ask that you please respect their privacy and the safety of their children at this time."

Sources tell TMZ Witherspoon has contacted celebrity divorce lawyer Robert Kaufman, who has represented Jennifer Aniston, Roseanne and Lisa Marie Presley.

Sources say Witherspoon spoke with Kaufman about divorcing Ryan Phillippe, her husband of seven years. The couple has two children.

They met at Witherspoon's 21st birthday party.
As for why Witherspoon contacted Kaufman, we're told it was not triggered by one event. Rather, one connected source says it was "cumulative."

Divorce papers have not yet been filed." Source: TMZ
"Witherspoon, 30, and Phillippe, 32, have two children, daughter Ava, 7, and son Deacon, 3.

The couple met when a mutual friend brought Phillippe to Witherspoon's 21st-birthday party. Two years later, after they had costarred in 1999's "Cruel Intentions", he proposed. They married in June 1999 and had Ava three months later.

Though the couple seemed to have it all – a successful relationship, thriving careers and beautiful children – they both spoke openly about having to work on their marriage.

In 2002, Phillippe told New York's Daily News that they were in couples therapy. "The biggest mistake," he said, "is not doing that, ignoring it and having the marriage fall apart because of laziness."

Similarly Witherspoon told PEOPLE at the time: "I'm not interested in the fallacy of the Hollywood relationship: 'We have perfect children who never cry; we never have problems; we never argue, we're always best friends,'" she said. "That's just not true. We're normal people with normal problems."

Witherspoon, who won an Oscar for her role in last year's hit "Walk the Line", is next expected to appear in the drama "Rendition". Phillippe is currently starring in the WWII drama "Flags of Our Fathers". Source: People
More information available in Barbie Martini.