Children services investigating child abuse claims involving Brad Pitt, sources say

LOS ANGELES -- Sources tell ABC News the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services is investigating child abuse claims involving Brad Pitt.

This comes after Angelina Jolie Pitt filed for divorce from Pitt, citing "irreconcilable difference" in divorce papers filed Monday in Los Angeles.

The actress is seeking physical custody of their six children, with visitation rights for Pitt.

An attorney for Jolie Pitt, Robert Offer, said that her decision to divorce was made "for the health of the family."

The two were together for 12 years but only wed in August 2014.

Their children are: 15-year-old Maddox, 12-year-old Pax, 11-year-old Zahara, 10-year-old Shiloh, and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

This is the second marriage for Pitt, 52, who previously wed Jennifer Aniston. It's the third for Jolie Pitt, who was previously married to Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller.

Sources close to Brad Pitt told ABC News:

"Brad takes the allegations very seriously, and is cooperating with the authorities. However many of the claims against him are either exaggerated or outright fabricated. Despite the smear campaign against him his number one priority remains the welfare of the children."