LONDON -- Paul McCartney and his estranged wife Heather Mills have failed to reach a divorce agreement, leaving it to a judge to rule on a deal, a lawyer representing the former Beatle indicated Monday.

Speaking as he left London's High Court, where the case has been heard behind-closed-doors since last Monday, Nicholas Mostyn confirmed that judge Hugh Bennett would give his ruling in several weeks' time.

Unsourced newspaper reports at the weekend claimed that the couple had thrashed out a deal between each other, but the reserved judgment indicates otherwise.

The judge's ruling will be binding on both parties but could be challenged in the Court of Appeal if either side disagrees. If that happens, the case would then be held in public.

If they agree, its terms will remain private, unless the pair decide otherwise.

McCartney, 65, and Mills, 40, announced their separation in May 2006 after four years of marriage during which they had a daughter, Beatrice, now aged four.

They have been in legal discussions ever since to determine how much the former model turned charity campaigner would receive from the musician's estimated 825-million-pound ($1.6-billion) fortune.