Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, the actress's lawyer has confirmed.

Robert Offer said the actress filed for "dissolution of marriage" on Monday, adding the "decision was made for the health of the family".

"She will not be commenting, and asks that the family be given its privacy at this time," Offer added in the statement.

The couple have been together since 2004 but only married in August 2014.

It was Pitt's second marriage, having previously wed Friends star Jennifer Aniston, and Jolie's third after Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller.

According to US entertainment website TMZ, Jolie cited "irreconcilable differences" in the divorce papers and listed the date of separation of 15 September.

It is understood she is asking for physical custody of the couple's six children. She is asking the judge to give Pitt visitation rights.

The couple have six children together - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, who are adopted, and biological children Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne.

Pitt, 52, and Jolie, 41, married privately in the French hamlet of Correns in Provence in 2014.

Their children served as ring bearers at the wedding and helped illustrate Jolie's white dress with their drawings.

The couple announced the ceremony days later.

Brangelina: How it began

Jolie and Pitt - nicknamed "Brangelina" by fans - are one of the best-known couples in Hollywood.

They got together after meeting on the set of the film Mr & Mrs Smith, which was released in 2005.

Jolie, who is the daughter of actor Jon Voight, rose to fame with roles in films such as The Bone Collector and Girl, Interrupted.

She starred as Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider film series and went on to star in Changeling, Salt, Wanted and Maleficent. She also directed World War Two prisoner of war film Unbroken.

Pitt's early acting roles included appearing alongside Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in Thelma and Louise.

He went on to appear in Fight Club, Ocean's Eleven, World War Z, Snatch and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and his producing work includes the Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave.

Pitt and Jolie most recently worked together on 2015 film By The Sea - a relationship drama directed and produced by Jolie.