The estranged couples' divorce papers have been signed and the union is officially over, leaving Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes unencumbered and free to move on.

The news comes at a sad time for Cruise, who was last week busy researching Top Gun 2 at a Naval base with Tony Scott, two days before the director jumped to his death in Los Angelese on Sunday.

Legal proceedings over the divorce, cited to be based on “irreconcilable differences” were perhaps unusually expedient, with the affair wrapped up in just seven weeks.

The high-flying Hollywood couple's separation was revealed at the end of June, followed swiftly by the news that a wrangle may ensue over both assets and the couple's six-year-old daughter, Suri.

While Cruise is reportedly remaining in control of a $US30million ($28.7million) Bel Air mansion, Holmes will take control of a $US3million ($2.87million) Montecito home.

Holmes is clearly moving on from her old life. Last week, delivery trucks were photographed leaving the home the couple shared in Beverly Hills, reportedly removing Holmes' belongings and bound for storage. She is now based in New York, where Suri will soon start at her new school.

She is currently preparing her fashion label Holmes & Yang's New York Fashion Week show.