It's Official: Madonna & Guy Ritchie Are Divorcing

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are ending their almost-eight-year marriage, a rep for the singer confirmed Wednesday. “Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven-and-a-half years of marriage. They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time,” read the short statement e-mailed to the Associated Press by Liz Rosenberg.

The statement, which was co-signed by Ritchie's representative, also said that the couple had not agreed to a settlement.

“The judgment of the court would be to try and assess what they came in with and divide what they built up fairly equally,” said David Allison, a lawyer with Family Law in Partnership, a London firm, told the AP.

In a front page story Wednesday, Britain's Sun newspaper claimed that the couple will be issuing a statement “imminently” on the demise of their often tempestuous relationship, which has been the subject of much speculation in recent months.

Contacted by PEOPLE, a rep for the singer declined comment on the story.

Madonna, 50, is in the midst of her Sticky and Sweet tour and is set to play Boston tonight. Ritchie, 40, was believed to be on the set of his latest film, Sherlock Holmes.

Reached at their home in London, his family declined to comment.