EXCLUSIVE: 'This is the most beautiful present I could wish for!' Beaming Stephen Belafonte walks out of court as judge FINALLY grants him and Mel B divorce after months of bitter court battles

  • A Los Angeles Superior Court judge finally granted Mel B and Stephen Belafonte a divorce judgment on Friday after months of bitter court battles 
  • Speaking to DailyMail.com, Belafonte said: 'This is the most beautiful present I could wish for. I'm newly single and ready to mingle'
  • Mel B was not in court to hear the judge declare the dissolution of the couple's troubled 10-year marriage
  • She has agreed to pay $200k of Belafonte's attorney fees by February 8 and both will split the proceeds from the sale of the businesses they started during their marriage
  • Judge Juhas also settled the child custody issue by making the original agreement - Belafonte getting custody alternate weekends and Wednesdays
  • DailyMail.com understands that he will likely walk away with around $9M from the marriage once the house is sold and other business interests have been divided

Mel B and her estranged husband Stephen Belafonte we're finally granted a divorce in court on Friday - ending nine months of bitter court battles and mud-slinging.

And in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com outside Los Angeles Superior Court, a beaming Belafonte, 42, said: 'This is the most beautiful present I could wish for. I'm newly single and ready to mingle.' 

America's Got Talent judge Mel - real name Melanie Brown, 42, - was not in court to hear Judge Mark Juhas declare the dissolution of the couple's troubled 10-year marriage.

Belafonte - dressed in a charcoal gray suit and black tie - huddled behind closed doors with his lawyers, brother and sister team Grace and Basel Jamra, and Mel's attorney Claudia Osuna for more than 90 minutes before stepping into Judge Juhas's courtroom.

Newly single: Stephen Belafonte was beaming as he left Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, just minutes after a judge finally granted him a divorce 

Newly single: Stephen Belafonte was beaming as he left Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, just minutes after a judge finally granted him a divorce 

Belafonte, who had been embroiled in a nasty divorce battle with now ex-wife Mel B, told DailyMail.com: Today's a beautiful day, I'm just leaving court, you know what I've gotta tell ya, I'm the happiest guy in the world today'
Belafonte

Free at last: Belafonte, who had been embroiled in a nasty divorce battle with now ex-wife Mel B, told DailyMail.com: Today's a beautiful day, I'm just leaving court, you know what I've gotta tell ya, I'm the happiest guy in the world today'

Mel B was not in court to hear Judge Mark Juhas declare the dissolution of the couple's troubled 10-year marriage. The former Spice Girl filed for divorce in March 

Mel B was not in court to hear Judge Mark Juhas declare the dissolution of the couple's troubled 10-year marriage. The former Spice Girl filed for divorce in March 

And Grace Jamra immediately went on the attack, accusing Mel of 'numerous violations' of a settlement agreement the couple made last November 8 when the singer dropped her domestic violence restraining order against Belafonte. 

In that deal the couple agreed to share custody of their six-year-old daughter Madison, with Belafonte having the child on alternate weekends and Wednesdays.

They also agreed to put their $6-8 million mansion on the market and share the proceeds. 

But according to Jamra, Mel has been preventing Belafonte from seeing his daughter, often taking her out of state or out of the country and is has also been dragging her feet in putting the house on the market. 

'Cash offers of $6 million and above have been falling by the wayside because Miss Brown is not motivated to sell the house,' Jamra told the court.

'Mr Belafonte wants to fix the house up, show it, and sell it.' 

Mel's attorney, Claudia Osuna countered that the British singer frequently travels with her children and 'shouldn't have to rely on Belafonte' for her movements. 

And regarding the couple's former marital home, Osuna told the court, 'Miss Brown has had offers for the house.' 

Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show the judgement of dissolution 

Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show the judgement of dissolution 

Dressed in a charcoal gray suit and black tie, a happy Belafonte was seen walking along his brother and sister legal team Grace and Basel Jamra

Dressed in a charcoal gray suit and black tie, a happy Belafonte was seen walking along his brother and sister legal team Grace and Basel Jamra

Judge Juhas settled the custody issue by making the original agreement - Belafonte getting custody alternate weekends and Wednesdays - a court order. Which means that from now on, if Mel wants to take Madison out of the country, she will have to ask Belafonte's permission. 

The judge also settled the house sale issue by ordering that the realtor handling the sale should let Mel and her lawyers know of any offer within 24 hours of receiving that offer.  

After today's hearing, Belafonte told DailyMail.com: 'I am happy. I got everything I wanted. She put me through the worst hell ever. But now it's all over - I hope. 

'She was trying to stop me from seeing my daughter but now after today, with this judgment, if she tries to do that again she will be in contempt of court. 

'And also, after today, I can get on with selling the house without (Mel) standing in the way.' 

Belafonte said he believes he can get $8 million for the lavish four-bedroom house.

But whatever the property - which he said is free and clear with no mortgage - sells for he will split with his now ex-wife. 

Mel has also agreed to pay $200,000 of Belafonte's attorney fees by February 8 and the couple will split the proceeds from the sale of several businesses they started during their marriage. He denied recent reports that Mel B is paying him $15,000 a month for three years.

Mel has agreed  to pay $200k of Belafonte's attorney fees by February 8 and both will split the proceeds from the sale of the businesses they started during their marriage
Mel B at the airport on Wednesday

Mel has agreed  to pay $200k of Belafonte's attorney fees by February 8 and both will split the proceeds from the sale of the businesses they started during their marriage

'It's actually much more than that,' he said. 

DailyMail.com understands that Belafonte will likely walk away with around $9million from the marriage once the sale of the house and other business interests have been divided.

After leaving court Belafonte posted a photo of Martin Luther King Jr on Instagram and wrote: 'In the immortal words of the late great DR Martin Luther King Junior!!!!

'FREE at LAST!! #celabrationtime,' (sic).  

During the bitter and protracted court battle, the singer accused Belafonte of tormenting her with years of mental and physical abuse and slapped him with a temporary domestic violence restraining order. 

She also claimed her husband drugged her throughout 'much to most' of the relationship. Belafonte vehemently denied the allegations and his lawyers dismissed her claims as 'nothing more than a smear campaign'. 

Mel also dropped her domestic violence restraining order against her former nanny Lorraine Gilles (center) last month after alleging that she and Belafonte had plotted to make embarrassing sex tapes of her

Mel also dropped her domestic violence restraining order against her former nanny Lorraine Gilles (center) last month after alleging that she and Belafonte had plotted to make embarrassing sex tapes of her

The producer claimed Mel had suffered from cocaine and alcohol addiction, saying they were a 'major issue' in their marriage. 

It has also been said that Mel led an 'extravagant' lifestyle and had 'wiped out' her $50million Spice Girls fortune. 

Mel, now a judge on America's Got Talent, married Belafonte in Las Vegas in June 2007. She filed for divorce ‪on March 20 this year, citing 'irreconcilable differences' and detailing allegations of domestic abuse. 

After nine-months of nasty courtroom drama the couple came to a private settlement last month two days ahead of a domestic violence trial.  

In a video statement he said his family has been 'restored' and he's glad the 'cloud of suspicion' of domestic violence is no longer hanging over his head.  

'Today's a beautiful day, I'm just leaving court, you know what I've gotta tell ya, I'm the happiest guy in the world today,' he said.

'It's about family, family has been restored, you know I want to thank my family lawyers because they are a family and helped me mentally and legally. 

'I'm just glad the cloud of suspicion of domestic violence is no longer over my head and I, my God, Angel I love you, Madison I love you, Phoenix I love you, Giselle I love you. I love my children,' Belafonte lost contact with his step-daughter Angel, Eddie Murphy's daughter with Mel, despite raising her from birth. 

Belafonte took to Instagram shortly after the hearing to express his excitement 

Belafonte took to Instagram shortly after the hearing to express his excitement 

And he was only allowed to see biological daughter Madison once a week in supervised visits.

He added: 'It's hard out here to be a man who wants to step up and be a father, but you know what, you persevere and you get there in the end. 

'Thank God, I really appreciate any love and support I've gotten through this time and like I said God bless.' 

After the couple came to a settlement a judge canceled the domestic violence restraining order against Belafonte.

Mel also came to a settlement with her former Nanny Lorraine Gilles last month.

The star dropped her domestic violence restraining order against Gilles after alleging that her and Belafonte had plotted to make embarrassing sex tapes of her. 

Gilles, who claims she enjoyed group sex with Mel and Belafonte during their marriage, helped to raise the star's three children, Pheonix, 18, from her previous marriage to Jimmy Gulzar, Madison, six, her daughter with Belafonte and Angel, 11, her daughter with comic Eddie Murphy.

Mel later admitted in court that she had a sexual relationship with Gilles.

Gilles has always denied the claims made by Mel and sued her for defamation after the star branded her a 'prostitute' and a 'homewrecker' in court papers. 

The defamation case is pending. Gilles did, however, say she willingly took part in threesomes with Mel and Belafonte. 

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