LONDON (AP) - A court schedule says Madonna and Guy Ritchie will be granted the first stage of their divorce in London Friday.

London's High Court lists "Ciccone M L v Ritchie G S" as one of 16 cases for "matrimonial and civil partnership causes for pronouncement of decree."

A judge will grant the couple a preliminary divorce decree, or decree nisi. After six weeks and a day they likely will be granted a decree absolute and the divorce will become final. It is unusual for the couple to attend court in such cases.

The couple announced last month they were divorcing after almost eight years of marriage.

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