Halle Berry is seeking sole custody of her and Olivier Martinez’s 10-year-old son, Maceo. In court documents filed in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County, Berry is requesting custody or tie-breaking authority to make decisions about his education and healthcare. She alleges that Martinez has been oppositional and has withheld his consent for years, prioritizing soccer activities over Maceo’s needs and claiming the child is old enough to make his own decisions.
Berry also claims that Martinez has interfered with custodial rights, withheld information, made unilateral decisions on Maceo’s behalf, involved him in the conflict between the parties, and refused to follow the recommendations of Maceo’s school. This behavior has resulted in Martinez effectively assuming sole decision-making authority in violation of the parties’ Stipulated Judgment. Berry’s representatives were reached out to for comment but have not responded at this time.
After meeting on the set of Dark Tide in 2010, Berry and Martinez married in July 2013. They separated in October 2015 and were declared legally single the following year. Up until August 2023, Berry and Martinez were sharing legal and physical custody of Maceo, with Berry paying Martinez $8,000 in child support monthly, as well as additional fees based on her income over $2 million. Berry also covers Maceo’s school tuition, extracurricular activities, and health insurance.
In May, Berry stated that she and Martinez intended to join co-parenting therapy sessions to improve their dynamic for Maceo’s benefit. However, Berry alleged in July that Martinez did not follow court orders and the couple only attended four out of the court-ordered mediation sessions. Berry’s legal team mentioned that she has made numerous attempts to foster a better co-parenting relationship with Martinez but his delays and resistance have allowed him to interfere with her bond with Maceo.
In response to Berry’s motion to resume co-parenting therapy, Martinez’s legal team requested for it to be denied. They argue that Berry’s claims are unfounded and Martinez has not been given a fair chance to express his side of the situation. The legal battle between the former couple continues as they navigate the complexities of co-parenting and custody arrangements for Maceo. The case reflects the challenges many divorced parents face when trying to co-parent effectively for the well-being and best interests of their children.
