Maria Shriver hires leading divorce lawyer

Maria Shriver has hired a leading divorce lawyer following the discovery that her husband Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a child with their housekeeper.

Arnold Schwarzenegger with his wife Maria Shriver (left) and Mildred Patricia Baena and her son

Miss Shriver, 55, is known to have been struggling with the idea of ending the marriage because of her Roman Catholic faith, and is still said to be in two minds about proceeding with a divorce.

However, she has retained the services of Laura Wasser, 42, a well known and respected family law attorney in Los Angeles. She is known in Hollywood as the "Disso Queen" because of her prowess in marriage dissolutions.

Miss Shriver made the decision to have a lawyer after Mr Schwarzenegger told her he had fathered a child out of wedlock, but before he publicly confirmed his infidelity.

A source told People magazine: "Maria hasn't decided yet if she wants to end her marriage." Miss Wasser's other clients include Mel Gibson's wife Robyn who filed for divorce from the troubled star in 2009. She also helped Angelina Jolie in her break-up with Billy Bob Thornton in 2003.

The housekeeper who Mr Schwarzenegger fathered a child with has been identified as Guatemalan-born Mildred Baena, 50.

Her son, who is now 13, was born less than a week after Miss Shriver's youngest son.

Mrs Baena, who divorced her husband in 2008, lives in a $268,000 four-bedroom house with a swimming pool in the quiet town of Bakersfield, 115 miles north of Los Angeles.

Neighbours described the boy as a polite and athletic youngster who enjoys martial arts and playing basketball, and recently went door-to-door raising money for charity by selling popcorn.

Marty Steelman, a travel agent who lives nearby, said: "When he came over selling his fundraiser stuff he told my husband his mum worked for Arnold Schwarzenegger. But it was not like 'he's my father' or anything like that.

I have no idea if he knew that or not.

"The child is very well reared, he does not say 'yes ma'am or sir' but close to that. My husband and I are very sad and worried that this is going to affect this young man." Mr Schwarzenegger, the former Mr Universe and California governor, was said to have only discovered the child was his after he was born, and to have been generous financially during his upbringing.

On the birth certificate Mrs Baena listed her then husband as the father. She lists herself on a social networking website as a "proud parent" who is looking for a "serious relationship." She recently retired after 20 years from her $1,200 (£740) per week job which included cooking, cleaning and laundry. She worked but did not live at Mr Schwarzenegger's $11 million (£6.75 million) mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles.

[Source : telegraph.co.uk]