Halle Berry Petitions to Restore 50/50 Custody Against Olivier Martinez
Halle Berry has petitioned the court to restore her original 50/50 custody agreement for her son, Maceo, and reinstate her tie-breaking authority following an escalating series of legal battles with her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez. The filing also requests that Martinez be forced to attend court-ordered therapy.
The latest legal filings reveal a widening rift between the former couple, who started their relationship in 2010, tied the knot in 2013, split in 2015, and finally finalized their divorce in 2023. Berry’s petition alleges that Martinez has engaged in continuous attempts to turn their son against her and interfere with her parental authority. According to court documents obtained by People, Berry claimed that Maceo would return from custodial time with his father appearing angry and combative,
taking Martinez’s side in private disputes and disregarding her role as a mother. She also alleged, that Martinez’s anger towards her influences her own disagreements with their son,
and that The fourth concern is Olivier’s continued attempts to align Maceo with him and against me in many areas of our child’s life.
She noted that it took Maceo 2 to 3 days to acclimate to being at home before the cycle started all over again when returning to Olivier, and mentioned that she perceived Maceo to repeat disputes that Olivier and she discussed in private, knowing about decisions regarding soccer, school, or therapy before an agreement was reached between the parents.
Berry Outlines Concerns over Martinez's Parental Conduct
In her documents, Berry outlined several areas of concern regarding Martinez’s conduct, including unilateral decision-making over education, placing their son in the middle of conflicts, and alleged interference in her therapeutic work with Maceo. Berry further stated that Martinez has actively attempted to influence the child’s teachers and therapist to view her as a risk, and that he refuses to accept her fiancé, Van Hunt, or permit family therapy sessions involving him.
The legal friction intensified after the 60-year-old French actor, Olivier, obtained a temporary restraining order last week against the 60-year-old Oscar-winning actress, covering both himself and Maceo. Martinez alleged that Berry physically abused their son by jumping on and choking him, claiming Maceo called him and reported the incident while playing a video game as Maceo turned 13 on Monday, October 5.
The Legal Roadblocks Ahead
With a temporary restraining order currently in place against Berry and both parents locking horns over custody, therapy compliance, and abuse allegations, it remains unclear how the court will rule on restoring the previous 50/50 arrangement or addressing the competing claims.