Halle Berry is seeking sole custody of her 10-year-old son, Maceo, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez.
In a recent court filing obtained by PEOPLE, Berry accuses Martinez of failing to co-parent effectively or communicate in a way that prioritizes their child’s needs.
The actress claims that Martinez’s lack of cooperation has contributed to Maceo’s educational and behavioral difficulties.
The legal documents, filed on August 16, state that Berry has been actively trying to address Maceo’s challenges. However, she alleges that Martinez has been “oppositional, unmoving,” and has refused to consent to necessary interventions over the years.
Berry’s legal team argues that Martinez has consistently disregarded professional advice and has blocked efforts to support Maceo’s development. They claim that he has interfered with custodial rights, withheld important information, made unilateral decisions, and failed to follow recommendations from Maceo’s school.
The documents also allege that Martinez prioritizes soccer over Maceo’s well-being, leading to the child falling behind in school.
Berry further notes that Maceo would “act out” toward her after spending extended periods with his father and that he has repeated disputes between his parents.
“To summarize, Respondent refuses to co-parent or communicate in a child-centered way or make child-centered decisions, which interferes with getting Maceo the help he needs,” the filing alleges. “By refusing to communicate, withholding consent, or deferring decisions, he has effectively delegated to himself sole decision-making authority in violation of the parties’ Stipulated Judgment.”
A lawyer for Martinez stated that he plans to respond to these allegations in the coming weeks.
This legal action comes a year after Berry and Martinez finalized their divorce, nearly eight years after their initial separation in 2015. At that time, they had agreed to share joint legal custody of Maceo, with Berry providing Martinez $8,000 per month in child support, along with an additional 4.3% of any income exceeding $2,000,000.
