Gwen Stefani will "remain partners in parenthood" with Gavin Rossdale.

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani

The couple have filed court documents ending their marriage of almost 13 years and issued a statement confirming the news, insisting they will be seeking joint custody of nine-year-old Kingston, six-year-old Zuma and 17-month-old Apollo.

In a joint statement, the couple said: "While the two of us have come to the mutual decision that we will no longer be partners in marriage, we remain partners in parenthood and are committed to jointly raising our three sons in a happy and healthy environment."

The 'Hollaback Girl' hitmaker, believed to be worth $80 million (£51 million), and the Bush singer, 49, reportedly worth $35 million (£22 million) do not have a pre-nuptial agreement so are expected to pool their assets and divide them 50/50 as a result of community property laws in California.

The 45-year-old No Doubt frontwoman - who dated the band's bassist Tony Kanal in the late 80s and early 90s - spoke about their marriage earlier this year by insisting it is something they "both want to" succeed.

She said: "If I look back on the whole thing, the one thing that's been constant is that we both want the same thing.

"We both want to be married. We both want to be good parents, and so I feel really proud of what we've done together.

"You're going to get me crying! No don't - I'm going to get all emotional! But I am really proud of it."