Last weekend, word got out in the tabloid media that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, known as Brangelina for short, had seen a divorce attorney to make arrangements for their split. Since they share the custody of six children, they needed the lawyer’s services to provide for them. The rumor has been rubbished by several unconfirmed sources but, as the New York Daily News puts it, there might be some truth to it.

For instance, Pitt and Jolie did meet with an attorney, but it wasn’t to take action in view of an imminent separation, but as a preventive step in case a rift should occur sometime in the future. That is to say, they did not ask for legal counseling because they want to break up, but because they’re trying to think of all possibilities should the situation occur, the publication says, citing sources close to the couple.

“After days of speculation about a possible breakup between Mr. Pitt and his other half, Angelina Jolie, word is surfacing that the power couple did indeed visit a high-powered L.A. lawyer last week – but only to cover their assets. ‘They aren’t married, so they need to protect their children and property in case there’s a rift in the future,’ a source says. That certainly makes sense, considering the two are worth a whopping $330 million combined,” the NY Daily News writes.

“So why are rumors of a breakup running rampant? ‘People hear “legal papers” and assume it means a divorce,’ our snitch continues. ‘But it could mean exactly the opposite. Either way, they’re making sure to get their ducks in a row, which they’ll need whether they split or stay together forever.’ That’s not the only reason for so many whispers: Rumors started swirling when the couple was a no-show to a pair of recent award programs,” the publication goes on to say.

Nevertheless, that last part is not that out of the ordinary when it comes to the two stars. Neither of them was running in a major category at the Globes, so there was literally no reason to make a public appearance, another tipster explains for the same e-zine.