Brittany Cartwright’s choice to end her marriage to Jax Taylor had been building for some time, a source shared with PEOPLE. On Tuesday, August 27, Cartwright, now 35, officially filed for divorce from Taylor, 45, while also seeking primary custody of their 3-year-old son Cruz, according to legal papers obtained by PEOPLE. This development follows nearly half a year after the couple announced they were taking “time apart.”
A source exclusively revealed to PEOPLE that Brittany felt this step was necessary for both her own well-being and her son’s. The source explained that Cartwright filed the paperwork in order to break free from the turbulent cycle they had been caught in.
Cartwright seeks primary custody of their son Cruz while offering Taylor visitation rights
“There’s been a lot over the past few months that she couldn’t ignore,” the insider explained. “This was not a decision made on impulse, but she is firm in her belief that it was the right move.”
Taylor, according to the source, is experiencing a mix of emotions and, while he recognizes that the divorce is the right choice, he feels saddened by the situation. The source added, “It’s been a tough month for him emotionally, but he’s doing his best to stay strong for their son.”
The couple’s representative has not yet responded to PEOPLE’s request for comments following the news. In the divorce filing on August 27, Cartwright marked January 24 as their separation date, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split. The pair initially met in 2015 and tied the knot in 2019.
Cartwright asked for both legal and physical custody of their son, while also seeking visitation rights for Taylor. Additionally, she requested that spousal support be terminated for both parties.
During the February 29 episode of their joint podcast When Reality Hits, Cartwright first mentioned that they were parting ways. She expressed the desire to clarify things before the premiere of their new Bravo show, The Valley, which aired its first season on March 19, with season two already in production.
“I mentioned previously on the podcast that many marriages hit tough patches,” she said at the time. “Yes, marriages can be challenging, and this past year has been particularly difficult for me. Jax and I have decided to take some space, and I moved into a new home to focus on my mental health.”
A source more recently confirmed to PEOPLE that the former couple will continue working together on The Valley. This comes after news broke that Taylor had recently completed a 30-day stay at a mental health facility and plans to return to the show.
“Brittany supported Jax’s decision to seek help, for the sake of their son,” a source shared this month. “But looking ahead, she’s no longer interested in maintaining a relationship with him.”
