Dwight Howard Demands Communications About Daughter From His Ex-Girlfriend Ahead Of Custody Trial

Dwight Howard is gearing up for another custody battle with his ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Render, following his "Dancing With The Stars" exit.

After strutting his moves on the competitive dance show, the NBA star reminded his former lover that he had not forgotten their legal tango. He subpoenaed his ex for all communications about their daughter in a new filing.

According to court documents, Dwight Howard demanded Tiffany Render hand over every email and text message she made regarding their child. He asked for these communications and other relevant documents to be provided before their custody trial.

Howard asked Render to provide all the emails and texts she had exchanged with their daughter Layla's doctor, teachers, and coaches. He requested that the communications include his ex's conversation with the teen's tutors or youth group leaders.

The basketball player noted the exchanges should start from January to date, and they should include Render's personal documents. Howard asked her to drop her tax return for 2023, all paystubs for the year, and any employment documents.

Additionally, the subpoena demanded evidence that supported Render's claims in the custody battle. Howard and his ex-girlfriend are scheduled to butt heads in court later this month, and the athlete can fully focus on the case, per In Touch.

Howard's subpoena filing comes at the heels of his "DWTS" elimination on Tuesday, November 12. He and his dance partner, Daniella Karagach, were the eighth team to leave the show's latest season.

Although Howard did not make it to the finish line, he reflected on the experience positively. "I learned so much, not just from dancing but how to be a partner," he said after his exit, adding:

"How to listen, really, to your partner, understand what your partner is saying and try to go out and emulate all those different things and really have your partner's back. All those things are key."

Howard and Render reached a joint custody agreement in January 2023, but The Blast shared that the deal no longer favored the athlete. He petitioned for new terms in November 2023, citing his ex's poor parenting.

In his filing, Howard highlighted "several changes in circumstances materially affecting the welfare of the minor child such that a modification of the custody and parenting time provisions."

His grievances included issues regarding his daughter's "life, health, and safety," like her social media presence. Howard noted the teen had been posting inappropriate content and displaying bad behavior, which he blamed on Render's lax parenting.

Howard's arguments moved the court, which granted him temporary primary physical custody of his daughter in January. The order also halted his $3,000 monthly child support payments.

The basketball player was also given the final decision-making authority on all matters related to Layla's care. On the other hand, his ex-girlfriend was awarded visitation rights, and the schedule was based on their mutual agreement.

Before Howard's petition, the initial joint custody arrangement saw Render having primary physical custody of their daughter. The athlete was given secondary custody rights, but he argued his ex had removed him from the decision-making table.

Three years before his 2023 petition, Howard had been embroiled in a different custody battle. In 2020, Edelmira Vega Rios, the mother of his late ex-girlfriend Melissa Rios, sued him over visitation rights to his son, David.

Edelmira petitioned for grandparent visitation, arguing that it was in David's best interest to maintain a relationship with her.She highlighted her significant role in David's life, noting she fostered a close bond with the boy as his caretaker since his birth.

The doting grandmother's petition did not stop at visitation rights but to be a part of her grandson's life. She requested permission to spend time regularly with David, including during his academic sessions.

Two years after seeking visitation rights, Edelmira filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of herself and David against a Calabasas apartment complex. She blamed them for her daughter's death, arguing that their bad plumping caused Melissa's fatal slip.

Although Dwight Howard is no stranger to legal battles, will he score another victory in his custody case against his ex-girlfriend?