The courts handling Sister Wives stars Kody Brown and Christine Brown’s custody case made a surprising call and are officially calling the case a divorce despite the two having never been married, In Touch can confirm.
In addition to referring to Christine, 52, and Kody’s split as a divorce, court documents obtained by In Touch revealed that the former couple has been required to attend mandatory parenting and divorce classes, as well as mediation. The court also indicated that a guardian ad litem may be appointed for their daughter Truely if deemed necessary, and a custody evaluation could be required.
The news was first reported by Without a Crystal Ball blogger, Katie Paul, on Tuesday, January 7.
Christine and Kody, 55, were spiritually married on March 25, 1994, and they welcomed six children over the next several years. However, in November 2021, Christine announced that she and Kody were going their separate ways.
“After more than 25 years together, Kody and I have grown apart and I have made the difficult decision to leave,” Christine wrote in a statement shared via Instagram on November 2, 2021. “We will continue to be a strong presence in each other’s lives as we parent our beautiful children and support our wonderful family. At this time, we ask for your grace and kindness as we navigate through this stage within our family. With Love, Christine Brown.”
Shortly after their breakup, Truely made the decision to move in with her mom in Flagstaff, Arizona, and in October 2022, sources exclusively told In Touch that Kody was no longer present in Truely’s life.
“Basically, he’s not in Truely’s life,” the insider said at the time. “Kody won’t go anywhere. Christine has to accommodate Kody. He’s still paranoid about COVID and everything else. So, if Christine is not choosing to do the transporting and making it happen — nor would she put Truely through any of this stress — then Kody won’t have a relationship with Truely. He would have to leave his nest to see his daughter.”
Fans of the popular TLC series were skeptical when Christine claimed that she felt like Truely moving in with her would salvage her relationship with Kody, and the dad of 18 slammed her decision.
“I’m disgusted by this idea that she’s moving, and she’s gonna take Truely and move to Utah,” Kody said in a confessional during a 2022 episode of Sister Wives. “Truely’s my child.”
In January 2023, Christine revealed that she was ready to dip her toe back in the dating pool, and just a month later, announced she was officially dating David Woolley. Christine and David, 61, were engaged in April 2023, and they officially tied the knot on October 7 that same year.
Less than a year later, Christine filed a lawsuit against Kody in September 2024 in order to receive retroactive child support and custody of Truely, 14. Since the Brown patriarch is not currently listed on Truely’s birth certificate, Christine requested that the court establish paternity.
In Touch previously confirmed that Kody and Christine’s case had been labeled a Track 3 “significant custody dispute.” According to the Utah State Court, that category “includes cases with significant custody disputes, including custody disputes involving allegations of child abuse or domestic violence.”