Halle Berry’s ongoing custody dispute with her ex-husband Olivier Martinez has taken another turn. Martinez is now asking a court to increase the child support Berry pays for their son, Maceo.
According to TMZ, Martinez says Berry’s parenting time has fallen to approximately 18% under their current arrangement. He also points to her recent film work as he seeks a change to their support agreement.
For us, the request raises a question: what steps is Martinez taking to support himself? Berry is already paying substantial child support, and it is fair to ask why she should be expected to contribute more without a full examination of both parents’ finances.
The existing agreement
When Berry and Martinez finalised their divorce in 2023, they agreed to joint legal and physical custody. Their settlement required Berry to pay $8,000 a month in child support, plus an additional percentage of income above $2 million.
The current custody arrangement has since changed temporarily. In October, a judge dissolved a temporary restraining order obtained by Martinez but kept a modified custody arrangement in place pending further review. Berry has denied allegations that she hurt their son.
Martinez’s reported 18% figure is his account of Berry’s parenting time. A court will need to consider the circumstances and financial information before deciding whether support should change.
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Another request for legal fees
Martinez’s request for more child support comes after he asked the court to order Berry to pay approximately $240,000 in his legal fees. He says he receives an average of just $776 a month in residual income and cannot afford the costs himself.
But why should Berry keep facing demands to cover more of Martinez’s expenses? She is already paying substantial child support. Before asking her to shoulder a larger bill, Martinez should face a thorough examination of his finances and ability to earn.
Maceo’s needs must come first, and the court should assess both parents’ resources carefully. Berry’s success should not automatically make her responsible for every expense Martinez brings to court.
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It doesn’t take someone with basic intelligence to know that this was the outcome he was aiming for by suing for full custody of his son . His ex wife is his cash cow and his expenses will just continue to escalate further down the road with him using their son as the bargaining chip.