(AP) Justice Hugh Bennett granted a preliminary divorce decree Monday for Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

McCartney and Mills weren't in court for the brief proceeding.

The decree could become final in six weeks and one day if no one objects.

Mills, 40, emerges from the rancorous divorce with a settlement of $47.5 million - and her reputation damaged by her ferocious televised outbursts against McCartney, 65.

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Photos: Paul McCartney

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At the conclusion of the divorce hearing in March, Mills dumped water on the head of McCartney's lawyer, Fiona Shackleton.

"Mrs. Shackleton said something under her breath so I cleansed and baptized her," Mills said at the time. "I thought she looked fantastic - I thought it did her the world of good."

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Photos: Linda McCartney Exhibit

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Mills retains custody of the couple's 4-year-old daughter, Beatrice.

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Photos: Heather Mills

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McCartney retains the bulk of his assets, estimated by the court to be worth $880 million.

Mills, whose left leg was amputated below the knee after a 1993 motorcycle accident, married McCartney at an Irish castle in 2002. They separated four years later. Last year, Mills claimed in interviews that McCartney had failed to protect her and their daughter from slander, death threats and other abuse, and she accused the media of persecuting her.

In November, Mills said she had been "treated worse than a murderer or a pedophile," despite years of work for land mine victims and animal welfare charities.

McCartney met Mills in 1999, the year after the death from breast cancer of his first wife, Linda. That marriage was one of rock's most enduring unions, and produced three children, including fashion designer Stella McCartney.

By Robert Barr
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