Jaime King Settles For Visitation Rights As Ex-Husband Wins Sole Custody Of Their Kids

Jaime King's custody battle with her estranged husband, Kyle Newman, has taken a major turn out of her favor. The actress has lost physical custody of her two sons, James and Leo, as she heads on to a compulsory six-month rehab program.

Jaime King and Kyle Newman got married in 2007 in Los Angeles. The couple stayed together for 13 years before she filed for divorce in 2020.

In the recent court judgment, the judge pronounced that Newman and King will share legal custody of their two sons. However, Newman will hold tie-breaking authority over legal decisions and have sole physical custody, meaning the boys will primarily reside with him. 

King also earned visitation rights, allowing her to see her sons three times a week for specific periods, but her visits will be supervised. Approved supervisors include her family members, such as her mother, sister, brother-in-law, and Newman's brother, Kevin.

The decision for supervised visitation stems from King's need to complete a series of mandated programs before being granted unsupervised access. 

Per PEOPLE, these requirements include a 6-month drug and alcohol rehabilitation program along with weekly testing and aftercare. She must also go on a 26-week parenting course, individual counseling, and potentially conjoint counseling with her sons as recommended by their therapist.

The ongoing custody battle between the former couple witnessed renewed tension, particularly in April 2024, when King filed an emergency request to modify their spousal and child support agreement.

Court documents revealed that King claimed she could not meet the financial obligations stipulated in their agreement, which had been established in April 2022. In response, Newman countered that King had not followed the court's orders regarding child and spousal support for over a year.

Additionally, Newman accused King of refusing to finalize their divorce settlement by not signing the necessary judgment, asserting that she couldn't unilaterally alter a court order as she had attempted.

Amid these disputes, King also sought legal protection by submitting a domestic violence prevention petition and an emergency motion concerning custody and visitation rights for their children.

In a legal filing from 2020, Newman described King as someone struggling with chronic substance abuse issues, specifically labeling her as a drug addict and alcoholic. He noted that she is unwilling to recognize her problems or pursue any significant treatment for them.

That is not all, the model's ex also expressed serious concerns about King's parenting abilities, alleging that her substance use during pregnancy negatively impacted their children. 

He claimed that several friends informed him of King's drinking and opiate use while pregnant with their son, James. 

Furthermore, Newman recounted that during a 20-week prenatal appointment, they learned that their unborn child, Leo Thames, was also struggling with addiction due to King's continued drug use. 

The appointment revealed that Leo had a congenital heart defect requiring immediate surgery upon birth, leaving Newman devastated. Newman's filing also included troubling accounts of King's behavior, including instances of driving under the influence with their children in the car.

She would also become so intoxicated that the boys feared for her life and abandoned them for days to use drugs and alcohol. He detailed an incident where King left Leo at a doctor's appointment with a nanny while she was later discovered at a liquor store nearby, purchasing alcohol.

Last year, The Blast shared that Newman filed a plea to gain full custody of their children. In the filing, Newman alleged that they had suffered trauma while living with his ex-wife.

Newman recounted receiving a distressing call from the kids during their stay at King's house, where they were crying and pleading for him to come and get them. 

When he arrived at around 7:45 am, he found King sitting on the floor in a navy blue and white varsity jacket, with her hair in pigtails and seemingly dressed in either no pants or very short shorts.

There were two men present, and she appeared distressed and tired from having been drinking, seeking his assistance to get up. During their encounter, King expressed concern, saying:

"Those are bad boys. We have to do something about our boys. Their behavior is not right."

Following this incident, Newman took the children to school, where one of the boys confided in a school therapist about their mother's behavior. 

King's former husband added that the therapist had previously reported concerns about King to the Department of Children and Family Services, but no action was taken.

King, represented by her attorney Diana D. Hagopian, firmly denied claims made by her former partner regarding the safety of their children while under her care. Hagopian characterized Newman's allegations as baseless and part of a strategy to cause harm and attract negative media attention.

She expressed concern over Newman's use of the legal system to perpetuate these unfounded claims, emphasizing that he is using their children as pawns without considering their privacy.

Hagopian highlighted King's commitment to fostering a peaceful co-parenting relationship, prioritizing their children's happiness, health, and well-being. Meanwhile, Newman's attorney, Garry Gekht, conveyed that Newman desires King to receive the necessary help to ensure she can parent effectively and safely.

He called for privacy from both the media and King's new legal representation, emphasizing that the well-being of their children remains his client's primary focus.

Will Jaime King fight back or respect the new status quo?