It looks like Maria Shriver is gearing up and taking steps to protect herself and her children from a potentially long and costly divorce battle with her separated husband Arnold Schwarzenegger.

PEOPLE is reporting that Shriver has hired top celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser to represent her.

Wasser is a Los Angeles-based family lawyer whose previous clients include Angelina Jolie, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder and Britney Spears.

A source is quoted saying, "Maria hasn't decided yet if she wants to end her marriage."

It was also revealed that Wasser was hired before the news of Arnold Schwarzenegger's affair and child with the family's longtime housekeeper went public.

The housekeeper has reportedly been identified as Mildred Patricia "Patty" Baena. She also worked as an assistant to Schwarzenegger and Shriver for 20 years before resigning in January.

The exact identity of the boy still remains under wraps, but new details have emerged based on discovery of the boy's the birth certificate.

In the certificate, which blacks out the boy's first and middle name, it is revealed that he was born on October 2, 1997 just five days after Schwarzenegger and Shriver welcomed their fourth child, Christopher Sargent Shriver Schwarzenegger, to the family.

That means his mistress and his wife were both pregnant at the exact same time with his children.

The boy, who is now 13, was born in Burbank, Calif., to Baena, who lists her last name as "Pena" in the certificate. She also named the father as Rogelio D.J. Baena, who was her husband at the time. Patty's place of birth is Guatemala, while her ex-husband was born in Colombia.

Schwarzenegger and Shriver shocked the public when they announced earlier this month that they were separating after 25 years of marriage.

On May 16, Schwarzenegger released a statement admitting to his wrongdoing and apologizing to his family.
Source: msn