7 Celebs Who Lost Custody Battles For Their Children

“When I got better then things would change and she could come to me.”

Living life in the spotlight can be challenging, especially when young children are involved. For famous moms and dads, the details of their lives as parents are often made public for everyone to know -- especially when things aren’t going well.

Unfortunately, for some celebrities, they end up in situations that aren’t suitable for their little ones or get involved in a messy split with an ex. And because of the circumstances, they wind up losing custody of their kids, whether it’s temporarily or permanently. Thankfully, over time, many stars are able to remedy their relationship with their children but it doesn’t come without some ups and downs.

Find out why these stars lost their custody battles…

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1. Britney Spears

Britney Spears has had a troubled history with the custody of the two sons she shares with ex Kevin Federline. After their split, Britney shared 50/50 custody of Sean and Jayden with Kevin, but that all changed in 2007. Amid personal struggles and erratic behavior, a judge uncovered Britney’s “habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol” and she officially lost custody of her children.

After a stay in rehab, Britney continued to fight for her children and eventually temporarily regained 50/50 custody. But things took a turn when Britney refused to turn over one of her children to Kevin when her allotted time was up. After locking herself and Jayden in a bathroom at her home, authorities intervened and she was taken to a hospital.

Since then, the boys have primarily been in the care of Kevin. In her book, The Woman In Me, Britney shared that despite ups and downs, over time, she was able to see her children more. In 2019, she was seeing them several nights a week for dinner. In the past several years, Britney has had more of a strained relationship with her sons but they are working towards reconciliation. In 2023, Kevin relocated them to Hawaii with Britney’s permission.

“Britney has always faithfully supported her children and wants them to be happy,” a source told People.

2. Hayden Panettiere

In 2018, Hayden Panettiere relinquished custody of her then-three-year-old daughter Kaya to her ex Wladimir Klitschko amid personal struggles. Looking back, Hayden says she was forced to sign paperwork giving Wladimir full custody, which she called the “most heartbreaking thing” she’s ever had to do in her life. At the time, she was under the impression that if she got better, she would be able to see her daughter again -- but Wladimir has taken the little girl to live in Europe and continues to retain full custody.

“I was gonna go work on myself, I was gonna get better, and when I got better then things would change and she could come to me and I could have my time with her but that didn’t happen,” she shared on an episode of Red Table Talk.

Hayden continued, “She was almost 3 and it wasn’t fully my decision. In fact, I didn't even know it was happening until she was already over there.”

While Hayden does not have custody of her daughter she says they are in regular contact and are very similar to one another.

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3. Kelly Rutherford

Kelly Rutherford was embroiled in a custody battle with her ex Daniel Giersch for over a decade. When they split, their son Hermes was two, and Kelly was still pregnant with their daughter Helena. At the time, a judge awarded them 50/50 custody. Unfortunately, the situation changed after Daniel’s work visa was revoked, forcing him to return to Monaco.

A judge eventually ruled that the children should primarily live with Daniel in Monaco while Kelly would be granted visitation -- but only if she moved there or traveled to the country to see them. She continued to fight for custody and was eventually granted a six-week visit with her children on U.S. soil -- but things took a turn at the end of the trip. Seeing her children upset to leave and out of desperation, she refused to send them back to Monaco. Her ex-husband accused her of abduction.

California and New York courts refused to hear the custody trial, explaining that they did not have jurisdiction over the case. The children were court-ordered back on a plane to Monaco. Kelly eventually was forced to take a step back from the spotlight after spending nearly $2 million in legal fees and declaring bankruptcy. She relocated to Monaco and says she now has a great relationship with her children.

4. Sharon Stone

After Sharon Stone and her ex-husband Phil Bronstein separated, they battled for custody of their son Roan. They were given joint custody but the little boy was initially moved to San Francisco with his father to attend school. In 2007, Sharon fought to modify the order so Roan could go to school in Los Angeles and be near his younger siblings but a judge ruled that living with his father was the best situation for him.

“The court does not find that [a] move away is in child’s best interest,” the judge said in the court minutes obtained by People. “Court finds that [Bronstein] can provide a more structured continuity, stable, secure, and consistent home that child, Roan, needs. [Bronstein] shall have permanent sole physical custody of child.”

Despite the statement, Sharon’s lawyer said that the actress did retain joint physical custody and it was simply the modification that had been denied. Roan continued to live in San Francisco and Sharon parented him from afar -- which she says ended up helping keep her life together during difficult years after having a stroke.

“The fact that I was trying to parent long distance was something that really kept me together,” she told ET in 2015. “It was hard, but ultimately it was really those lessons that are always really good and it helped me.”

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5. Courtney Love

Courtney Love had to fight for custody of the daughter she shared with Kurt Cobain almost from the moment the little girl was born. After the couple gave an interview about their drug habits while Courtney was pregnant, they were reportedly investigated by the Department of Children and Family Services. When Frances Bean was just a few weeks old the DCFS took custody of the infant for a brief time before the investigation was dismissed.

Then in 2003, after Kurt’s death, Courtney lost custody again after a tumultuous evening where she attempted to break into her ex-boyfriend’s home and then overdosed on painkillers. Kurt’s mother Wendy O'Connor was given temporary custody. It would be two years until Courtney would regain custody following a stay in rehab.

In 2009, Courtney lost custody once again amid a family issue. Despite Courtney and Frances’ tumultuous relationship, they have worked to repair their bond.

“When my mom is on a right and healthy path, she is one of the most fulfilling, beautiful, intelligent and kind people I ever met,” she said on the RuPaul: What's the Tee? podcast in 2019. “This is what I like to call the era of balance, and I hope that we’re bringing in the era of balance.”

6. Kim Delaney

In 2005, Kim Delaney lost custody of the son she shares with ex-husband Joe Cortese. After being arrested on drunk driving charges several years earlier, her then-15-year-old son ended up testifying against her in court, claiming that she showed up drunk to pick him up from a friend's house. His father was given full custody.

While Kim has continued to struggle with her sobriety, including a hit-and-run in 2022, she appears to be on good terms with her son, whom she shares on Instagram.

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7. Lisa Marie Presley

In 2017, Lisa Marie Presley and her estranged husband Michael Lockwood both temporarily lost custody of their twin daughters. At the time, Lisa Marie and Michael were in the middle of a heated custody battle during which Lisa Marie accused Michael of having “disturbing” photos of children on his computer. Lisa Marie says she was “shocked and horrified and sick to my stomach” upon finding the alleged photos -- and her daughters were placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.

Lisa Marie’s mother, Priscilla Presley, later clarified the situation and wrote that she had custody of the little girls and they were not in foster care.

“There is lots of confusion, commotion and concern from all the talk circulating," Priscilla wrote on Instagram. “Let me put this to rest... the girls have not been in foster care and never will be. The girls have been with me and will be until all this is sorted out.”

Lisa Marie eventually regained custody of the girls before her passing and no charges were filed against Michael.

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