BRAD Pitt's friends have claimed Angelina Jolie is still in love with him - despite begging a judge to end their marriage.

The pair are in the middle of a messy battle over custody of their six kids following their split in 2016.

A judge has already told the Hollywood actress she must allow Brad more visitation with their six kids.

But a friend of Brad has told The Daily Mail that part of the problem is that Angelina is in love with him.

The source told the paper: "The issue is that she cares about him. There is a lot of emotion and history. There are very strong feelings.

"When he said that he wanted to file, there was a realisation that he wanted to end it, finally, and she could not take that — which led to her accusing him of not paying to support the children and all the rest of it."

The pal claims Angelina "doesn't want to give up on him on some level".

It comes after she begged a divorce judge to end her marriage with Brad – claiming the actor is failing to pay her “meaningful child support”.

The Maleficent star, 43, filed new legal documents in her messy split with the Benjamin Button actor, 54.

Her lawyer has now asked their judge to issue a final divorce decree this year and make her a single woman again.

The documents also claim that Pitt has not paid “meaningful child support” since their separation and has not even lived up to an “informal arrangement” they set up.

She wants the judge to issue a formal child support order on her behalf.

Her lawyer Samantha Bley DeJean wrote in the new court filing said: "(Pitt) has a duty to pay child support. As of present, (Pitt) has paid no meaningful child support since separation.

“The payment of the children's expenses have not been regularly sustained by (Pitt) for over a year and a half.”

Under California law, each parent is responsible for providing for the children based upon the agreement reached between the couple.

Jolie's lawyers are now asking to appear before the judge to schedule a status conference in the case to address the financial issue amid the couple’s separation.

The warring pair Jolie split in September 2016, citing irreconcilable differences.

The Oscar-winning actress had six children with her actor husband, ranging in age from nine to 16.

The breakup between the couple - once known by fans as “Brangelina” – saw Pitt accused of being rough with one of his children on a private plane that was en route from Europe to LA.

The incident was reported to authorities but the FBI and Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services both cleared Pitt of any wrongdoing.

Pitt’s lawyers have alleged in court documents Jolie and her attorneys have compromised the children’s privacy through court filings in a bid to undercut him.