We knew that Nicole Richie and Joel Madden were on the brink of divorce after four years of marriage, but a recent update confirms just how bad things really are.

Nicole has been meeting with a divorce lawyer in LA, which must mean the marriage is coming to an end.

A source told In Touch magazine: “Nicole recently met with one of LA’s most prominent divorce attorneys and is weighing her options. It’s better for everyone right now if they just stay apart because it’s really not working anymore.”

“It’s very obvious to friends that a divorce announcement will probably be happening soon,” said the source.

The source also claims that the couple are “spending more time apart because all they do is fight when they’re together. The last thing she wants is a public split with the children involved, but she’s desperately unhappy.”

Nicole has been seen several times without her wedding ring on and spotted house-hunting in LA, so it looks like the pair have finally decided to called it quits.

The pair have two children together: daughter, Harlow, 7 and son, Sparrow, 5.

Such a shame, we loved these two together.

Could Nicole Richie be expecting baby number three?

The Simple Life star was pictured with an unusually rounded tummy as she took a stroll in Sydney, Australia earlier this week.

Although Nicole has not made any official statement about a third pregnancy, there's no denying a bump was on show as the star appeared at a racing carnival at Sydney's Rosehill Gardens wearing a pretty tunic-style dress.

Nicole and her husband, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden, have two children together, seven-year-old Sparrow and five-year-old Harlow.

Speaking in a recent interview about the possibility of more children, Nicole said she never plans ahead. "We didn't plan the first two, so it's not really up to us, I guess. We're just a go-with-the-flow… we've never done anything in traditional order," she revealed to Ryan Seacrest.

The family are currently splitting their time between Australia and LA as Joel continues his work as a judge on The Voice Australia, and Nicole admits she considers Down Under as a "second home."

We can't wait to find out if the rumours are true!