Chris Rock and his wife Malaak Compton defended their “happy” relationship when divorce rumors were rampant in 2007, but the couple released official statements on Sunday confirming that they are now officially separating after 20 years of marriage. According to legal documents acquired by TMZ, the divorce may in fact be the result of Compton refusing to allow the comedian to see his daughters on a regular basis.

“Chris Rock has filed for divorce from his wife, Malaak,” Rock’s attorney, Robert S. Cohen, revealed in a statement. He said that this is a personal matter and Chris asks for privacy as he and Malaak go through this process and try to focus on their family.

Rock’s wife also released a statement confirming the divorce, in which she noted that her children and their iwn well-being will be her top priority. She added that she hopes the media will respect her family’s privacy. Compton, who is the founder of the nonprofit styleWorks, went on to say that while the divorce will present a difficulty for her, her situation of “being fortunate enough to lead a life of service by working with those most vulnerable” has given her more appreciation for life’s blessings.

The couple have two daughters together, 12-year-old Lola Simone and 10-year-old Zahra Savannah. According to TMZ, the divorce papers reveal that Rock is asking for shared legal and physical custody of their children. It turns out that the comedian’s finances are no longer protected by the prenuptial the couple signed when they married in 1996, as that agreement expired last year.

A source close to the couple told PEOPLE that Rock knew his marriage wasn’t salvageable for a while. It was also noted that the move toward divorce “was a long time coming. He [Rock] was the one to file because he knew it was time to just move forward already.”