Kim Kardashian wants her divorce petition heard by a mediator.

The 31-year-old socialite is reportedly keen to have her marriage to Kris Humphries legally ended as soon as possible and plans to request that the proceedings are held in private.

A source said: "A public trial is the last thing that Kim wants, and she has instructed her lawyer to formally petition the court so that the divorce can be heard by a mediator, which is routinely done in California, since it's a no-fault state.

"Kim doesn't want a long drawn out trial. She wants the mediation to be private, confidential, and legally binding. She and Kris have no assets together and kept separate bank accounts, so this is a fairly routine divorce proceeding. Kim just wants this over and done with."

However, Kim's plans for a private divorce could run into trouble as lawyers acting for Kris - who she split from in October after just 72 days of marriage - want to investigate scenes filmed for her reality TV show.

It has been claimed that a heartfelt discussion between Kim and her mother Kris Jenner about her marriage woes that aired in an episode of 'Kourtney and Kim Take New York' was actually filmed on a soundstage in December, nearly two months after the discussion was presented as having taken place during a business trip to Dubai.

Kris cited fraud as his official response to Kim's divorce petition and wants his lawyer to question his estranged wife, her mother and staff from the show over the scenes, feeling they back his case.

A source told a media website: "Kris feels that if this is true and the whole conversation was faked, this would help prove that he got married under fraudulent circumstances. Yes, this did occur after the marriage, but this is one clear example that could help sway the judge to grant the divorce on the grounds of fraud."