Madonna is Officially a Free Woman, London Judge Grants Divorce

It's been little more than a month since Madonna and Guy Ritchie revealed publicly that they would be getting divorced, but a judge granted the couple the divorce Friday, officially ending their eight year marriage.

District Judge Caroline Reid pronounced the degree nisi in the uncontested divorce at the family division of the High Court in London. The case was listed as Ciccone M L v Ritchie G S, and was among 17 cases read out by a court clerk.

The judge then asked if anyone wished to show just cause against the decrees or raise the question of costs, and then said "I therefore pronounce the decrees." Neither Madonna nor Ritchie attended the hearing, which they are not required to do by law. The hearing lasted under a minute, and has to be one of the quickest high-profile divorces on record.

Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, married at a Scottish castle in December 2000 in a lavish ceremony, and announced mid-October that they were divorcing. Together they have an eight year old son, Rocco, and a three year old adpoted son, David Banda. Madonna also has a 12 year old daughter, Lourdes, by her former trainer Carlos Leon.

Now that the split is official, will Madonna start stepping out more often with rumored boy toy Alex Rodriguez?