Usher and wife have lived apart for nearly a year

ATLANTA (AP) -- Court records show that Usher and Tameka Raymond were separated for nearly a year before the R&B singer filed for divorce, calling the marriage "irretrievably broken."

A divorce petition obtained by The Associated Press says the couple has lived separately since July. The two were married in a glitzy ceremony in August 2007, but split nearly a year later. The petition was filed Friday in Fulton County Superior Court.

The Raymonds have two young sons: 1 1/2-year-old Usher Raymond V and 6-month-old Naviyd Ely Raymond. Tameka Raymond has three children from a previous marriage.

The petition says there is "no reasonable hope of reconciliation" between Usher, 30, and Tameka Raymond, 38.

Usher is seeking joint custody of the children.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.