14 DAY TRIAL // If only court documents could talk! It looks like the only reason why Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, the newly separated couple, aren't dragging each other in divorce court and smearing accusations whenever possible is because they are both already quite smeared.
Citing sources close to the couple, an insider who spoke with TMZ claims that both Chris and Gwyneth are very interested in not going to court in their divorce, fearing some very unflattering revelations getting in court documents and thus ruining their reputations.
Should the divorce turn ugly, both parties would have to provide concrete proof of why they are seeking termination, and this is where it's likely to turn into a massacre, because, according to source, they both have some skeletons in the closet and haven't been careful about covering up their tracks.
Earlier reports, right after the split was announced, spoke of infidelities on both their parts and that their marriage was an open one and had been so for years. This gave them both time to experiment with other partners but could also prove to be a PR bomb, should the media get a look at the court documents.
And for this reason, Chris and Gwyn are choosing to play ball, shake hands and smile for the press, lest their secrets be dragged in court and then exposed like a pair of dirty underwear. It would seem that their collective fear for their reputations has led them to a quick and painless agreement over both money and custody.
They already know who's getting what and who gets the kids too. While this can be regarded as a positive thing for their two young children, it still raises the question of what exactly could emerge from the trial that would be so scandalous and ruinous for both their careers.
The part about an amicable split has been confirmed by several reports, some coming from within the family itself so, at the moment, it has a big chance to be true. But there are still those reports that said Gwyneth was cheating on Chris (there is even photographic evidence linking her o ex-boyfriend Donovan Leitch) and those that said he was left utterly devastated by the breakup.
Those will more than likely remain unknown, as Gwyneth begged fans on her website to respect the couple's privacy and that of their children, and allow them to conduct this divorce without asking too many questions.
Also, everyone involved has been seriously tight lipped, apart from Gwyneth, who is still trying to boost the traffic to her lifestyle website Goop, by posting updates on the split from time to time.