10 of the Most Intense Celebrity Custody Wars

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez first met in 2010 on the set of the film Dark Tide. Halle had just broken up with Gabriel Aubry. They got married and welcomed their son Maceo to the world in 2013. Two years later, Halle filed for divorce. The terms were just settled last year after an eight-year court battle.

In August of 2024, Halle filed a new petition seeking full custody of now 10-year-old Maceo. She claims she is doing this because it is in the best interest of her son. “[Martinez’s] actions and lack of cooperation with respect to Maceo’s psychological and educational needs have been detrimental to Maceo’s health and welfare,” court documents stated. The battle continues.

Halle and Gabriel were together from 2006 to 2010. They first met on the set of a Versace photo shoot. In 2008, the couple welcomed their daughter, Nahla, to the world. After they broke up, Halle wanted to move to France to be with her then-fiancé, Olivier Martinez. This did not go over well with Gabriel, who wanted to keep his daughter close. Things came to a head on Thanksgiving 2012 when Gabriel and Olivier got into a physical fight after the issue. Ultimately a judge blocked Halle from moving to France, and one week after the fight a custody agreement was reached.

More from Mom: Emily Ratajkowski Worries She’ll Lose Custody of Her Son for Being an ‘Outspoken’ Woman

The Jonas Brothers singer and Game of Thrones star first met in 2016 when Joe slide into Sophie’s DMs on Instagram. Wedding bells rang in 2019. They share two daughters. In September of 2023, Joe filed for divorce.

Things quickly got messy. Sophie sued Joe, claiming he was withholding the girls’ passports and refusing to let them travel to England to be with her. The case was dropped when a new parenting agreement was reached after the couple underwent mediation for child custody. This temporary agreement expired in January of 2024. In March 2024, Sophie filed to reopen the divorce case, which was put on hold during the custody battle. There’s no resolution in sight.

Rapper Future and singer Ciara first met on the job. Sparks flew in the studio in 2012. He proposed the following year, and in 2014 a baby was on the way. That same year, before the wedding could happen, cheating rumors abounded and the couple broke up. Future Zahir Wilburn was born on May 19, 2014.

The following year, Ciara began to date now-husband Russell Wilson. In 2016, Future went off on the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and his ex on Twitter and in interviews. Ciara sued Future for defamation. By 2017, she dropped the lawsuit and agreed to joint custody of their son after previously seeking to be the sole guardian.

Angelina Jolie filed for divorce in 2016. Angelina alleges that Brad physically and verbally assaulted her and their kids on their private plane. The couple have been fighting it out in court for eight years. They share six kids: Maddox, Pax, Sahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox. Only the twins are minors these days. Several of their siblings have chosen to drop their father’s last name and replace it with their mother’s maiden name.

Britney first met backup dancer Kevin in 2004. He had been working for her ex, Justin Timberlake. They were married that same year but divorced in 2007. They share two sons: Sean Preston and Jayden James. At first, Britney asked for sole custody but then agreed to equal.

In 2008, things got complicated when she was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold. Kevin was granted sole custody. In 2018, he asked for more child support, which Britney feared he would use against her if she didn’t increase her payments. She agreed to pay $35,000 a month. In 2019, she was granted 30% custody.

In 2023, Kevin and his wife Victoria Prince moved their family to Hawaii. They share two daughters. Sean and Jayden were included in this move with Britney’s consent.

Usher and Tameka first met when she worked as his stylist. Sparks flew among the clothing racks, and the couple was married in 2007 but divorced by 2009. They share two sons: Usher V and Naviyd Ely. The custody battled lasted three years.

Ultimately Usher was granted primary custody in 2012. Tameka tried to argue that Usher neglected his kids, but the court ruled otherwise.

Olivia and Jason first met at an SNL wrap party in 2011. They wouldn’t start dating until six months later. They got engaged in 2012 but never married, breaking up in 2020. They share two children: Otis and Daisy.

Things got heated when Olivia was publicly served custody papers in April 2022 at CinemaCon. She was in the middle of giving a presentation about her film Don’t Worry Darling. Jason claimed this was not his intention. Lots of emotionally charged words were said in the press. This kicked off a year and a half custody battle, which eventually ended in 2023 with the pair agreeing to share parenting duties.

Sparks flew between Bethenny and Jason at a New York City bar called Tenjune in 2008. Marriage bells rang in 2010, and shortly after that, their daughter Bryn was born. They announced their separation in 2012 and filed the following year. At first they agreed to joint custody but that didn’t last.

In 2017 Jason was arrested for allegedly threatening Bethenny at Bryn’s school. A six-month stay-away order from Bethenny was issued as a result. In 2018, Jason claimed through his lawyer that the death of Bethenny’s boyfriend Dennis Shields proved she wasn’t a fit parent. He died from an alleged Oxycodone overdose.

In 2019, Bethenny sued for sole custody, which was granted in 2020. In 2021, the court ruled she didn’t have to pay Jason child support either.

Sherri and Lamar got married in 2011 but separated in 2014. Three months after they broke up, they welcomed son Lamar Jr. to the world. He was born with the help of a surrogate using Lamar’s sperm and a donor egg.

Lamar went on to raise the child as a single father. Sherri has never met him, according to People. She even tried to get her name removed from the birth certificate. Sherri explained that she agreed to surrogacy so Lamar wouldn’t leave her.

A judge ruled her legally responsible for the child in 2015, so she pays child support. Lamar tried to sue for an increase but was denied in 2016.