Halle Berry seeks sole custody of son Maceo amid co-parenting struggles with ex-husband Olivier Martinez

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Halle Berry has officially filed for sole custody of her 10-year-old son, Maceo, following ongoing co-parenting issues with her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez. The Union actress, 58, is seeking legal authority to make all decisions regarding their son’s education, health, and therapy needs after alleging that Martinez has consistently refused to co-parent in a child-centered manner.

Weeks after Halle Berry claimed that Olivier Martinez failed to continue working with a co-parenting coach, she filed a request for sole custody on August 16, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County. According to legal documents obtained by PEOPLE, Halle Berry is seeking sole legal custody or, alternatively, “tie-breaking authority” when it comes to making key decisions for their son.

The filing follows a year after Halley Berry and Olivier Martinez finalized their divorce, nearly eight years after their 2015 split. At the time of their divorce, the couple had agreed to joint legal custody of Maceo, with Halle Berry paying $8,000 a month in child support, as well as 4.3% of any income she earns over $2 million.

Halle Berry’s legal team argues that the actress has taken proactive steps to address Maceo’s educational challenges and behavioral concerns, including securing tutoring and seeking out an educational assessment for him. However, the documents allege that Olivier Martinez has been “oppositional” and “unmoving” in providing consent for these interventions.

Olivier Martinez’s refusal to support Maceo’s educational and psychological well-being, including prioritizing soccer over addressing his academic and behavioral struggles, has allegedly worsened the situation. Halle Berry’s legal team claims that Maceo began acting out after spending extended periods of time with his father and would often repeat arguments between his parents.

Halle Berry’s filing further asserts that Olivier Martinez has interfered with her custodial rights by making unilateral decisions regarding Maceo’s care, withholding information, and ignoring recommendations from Maceo’s school and hired professionals. The actress’s legal team claims that Martinez has refused to communicate or make decisions in the best interest of their son, resulting in Maceo falling further behind in school.

Despite attempts to resolve their differences through coaching sessions, Halle Berry claims that Olivier Martinez unilaterally terminated the sessions without informing her or their coach. In May, Halle Berry sought to enforce Martinez’s compliance with their agreement, but a judge denied the request, citing a lack of urgent circumstances.

While Berry and Martinez have continued to clash over parenting styles, a source close to the couple notes that “they both love Maceo,” whom they welcomed in October 2013. The former couple met in 2010 and were married for two years before their split in 2015.

Halle Berry, who is now in a relationship with musician Van Hunt since 2020, is said to be incredibly happy with her new partner. A source recently shared that Van Hunt remains her biggest supporter and that the two are "great together."