(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Maria Shriver has filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The former Governor of California and journalist Maria Shriver announced in May that they were calling time on their 25-year marriage amid Arnold's confession that he fathered a love child over ten years ago.

It has now been reported that Maria lodged papers to formally end the marriage in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday. She has cited irreconcilable differences for the split and is seeking shared custody of their minor children Patrick, 17, and Christopher, 13. The pair also have two grown up daughters - Katherine, 21, and Christina, 19.

Maria has requested spousal support from Arnold and also wants him to pay her attorney fees.

The legal papers have not indicated if Maria and Arnold had a prenuptial agreement, but it has been reported they did not sign one when they tied the knot in 1986.

It is believed the pair will split their joint fortune of around $400 million, as under California law all earnings and property acquired during a marriage must be divided up equally.

Maria, 55, has hired Laura Wasser to represent her in the divorce proceedings, while Arnold has chosen Robert Kaufman who represented Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon when their respective marriages ended. It has been reported the divorce settlement could take months to be finalised.

Maria's decision to file for divorce comes just two months after it was revealed that 63-year-old Arnold had a secret love child with the couple's long-time housekeeper, Mildred Baena. (C) Cover Media