Katie Holmes planned her split from Tom Cruise meticulously and weeks before the couples separation was announced, it has been reported.

A source claims that the actress didn't let on she was intending to leave her husband and professed her love for him mere days before their break-up.

It is claimed that the former Dawson's Creek star's family and entourage actively helped Katie to prepare for the split behind Tom's back.

"She was talking to Tom on the phone up until last week saying, 'I love you,'" a source told People. "Her inner circle has been planning this and switching out cell phones since she was in China [in mid-June]. When new cell phones arrived, then nobody could reach her. Her old best friends from last week don't have her new number, no email. She's unreachable."

The source added that Tom was aware Katie had rented a new apartment in New York, but believed she was looking for a more secluded home to avoid paparazzi.

In the days leading up to the split the brunette beauty's father reportedly helped her clear out her old home and allegedly sacked many of her staff.

"[Tom] knew that she moved there, but [he thought it was] for different reasons," the insider said. "She said she moved there to drive into the underground garage. There are fewer paparazzi and it's less intrusive for her. It was the first phase of getting everything out of the house, and that's why she was able to say she's moving without giving an indication that she was going to divorce him."

It has previously been reported that Katie was desperate to end the marriage because she feared her daughter with Tom, Suri, was facing an inquisition at Scientology boot camp.

The mother-of-one reportedly worried the six-year-old girl would be grilled with intimidating questions, including "Who have you made guilty?" and "Have you ever been a coward?"