Reportedly, former Gov. James E. McGreevey and his estranged wife, Dina Matos McGreevey, settled child custody matters on Thursday as they moved closer to dissolving their marriage, their lawyers said. Reportedly, the settlement deal regarding custody of their 6-year-old daughter came on the third day of negotiations, which included some closed-door testimony before state Superior Court Judge Karen M. Cassidy, who was trying to avoid a divorce trial. Lawyers for former Gov. James E. McGreevey and his wife Dina Matos McGreevey said they could not disclose terms of the custody agreement because it was confidential.

Reportedly, Govenor James E. McGreevey is expected to testify this morning on child custody arrangements for his 6-year-old daughter, Jacqueline. Approximately four years after former Gov. James E. McGreevey announced his homosexual affair to the world, the legal dissolution of his heterosexual marriage to former first lady Dina Matos McGreevey finally began today at Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

Reportedly, Britney Spears will have expanded visits with her sons following a child custody hearing that went off without a hitch Tuesday, capping a three-month period of relative calm and stability for the troubled pop star and mother of two. The longer visits are “recognition of the progress that has been made, a progress in structure and stability,” said Mark Vincent Kaplan, lawyer for Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline. At a post-hearing press conference, Kaplan said Federline retains custody of 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James, but that Spears would be allowed to see them for longer periods.

Reportedly, Kevin Federline and Britney Spears Child Custody Evaluation report has been completed. Reportedly, the child custody evaluation report, complied by Dr Jane Shatz and including feedback from court-appointed monitors and observers, is said to be incredibly detailed but a “mixed bag” for Britney Spears. A source explained: “The report notes that Britney clearly has a lot of love for the boys and they all enjoy the time they spend together but she’s just not capable of looking after herself at the moment, let alone two toddlers.”

The next court hearing has been scheduled for May 6th, after both legal teams have had a chance to review the document, and the source added that the report “makes it more likely that Britney will show for the hearing.”

Reportedly, a University of Michigan Professor lost custody of his child after purchasing an alcoholic beverage by mistake (not knowing it contained alcohol) for his 7-year old child at a baseball game. A security guard saw the child drinking the beverage and took it from him, and turned the family into police.

Reportedly, the child was sent to Children’s Hospital to be checked out and was then supposed to be released to his parents, but was instead taken by Child Protection Services, and held for three days.
It ultimately took a university-backed legal counsel to clear up the mess over several more days.
The child is back with his parents and doing well.

Reportedly, things are back to normal for the University of Michigan professor Christopher Ratte.

Reportedly, Los Angeles Superior Court documents released show the 55-year-old David Hasselhoff has agreed to pay $25,000 a month to support his ex-wife Pamela Bach and children in his divorce settlement. Reportedly, David Hasselhoff’s daughters, 17-year-old Taylor, and 15-year-old Hayley will receive another $4,000 from their father. David Hasselhoff and his ex-wife Pamela Bach have spent months negotiating child custody and financial arrangements. The couple, who divorced in 2006 after more than 16 years of marriage, have joint custody of the children.

Reportedly, after an arduous two-day mass hearing with hundreds of lawyers, state District Judge Barbara Walther decided the state had enough evidence of a culture of sexual and emotional abuse – including child brides and boys groomed to be abusers – on the Yearning for Zion Ranch to warrant the unprecedented removal of 416 children two weeks ago.

Reportedly, whispered phone calls from someone who said she was 16 and being abused by her 49-year-old husband on the ranch tipped off authorities in what is now being called the largest child-welfare case in U.S. history, which began with the April 3 raid near tiny Eldorado, Texas, on the compound run by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a breakaway Mormon sect.

Reportedly, the children taken from the polygamist ranch will stay in state custody, whether in foster or group homes or with relatives under supervision, at least through early June, when the state is required to determine whether the parents are taking appropriate steps to keep their children safe and earn the right to bring them home.

Reportedly, Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back Najeh Davenport has been found by a jury to be not guilty of all criminal charges filed against him in connection with a domestic violence incident stemming from a child custody issue. A local jury composed of five women and three men has cleared Najeh Davenport of all three counts of demeanor.

Reportedly, Police charged Najeh Davenport, 29, with domestic violence, child endangerment and unlawful restraint after an altercation stemming from a child custody dispute on Oct. 4 with Anita Person, 27, of Cleveland, who is the mother of their 5-year-old son.

Reportedly, Anita Person told police that Najeh Davenport punched and choked her when she removed their son from his vehicle because he threatened to not return the child. Najeh Davenport told police he was supposed to have his son for the weekend, but Person took the child away from him. Najeh Davenport denied the accusations.

False allegations of domestic violence in the context of a child custody battle is a known epidemic in the family courts. Mixing accusations of domestic violence and child custody often results in serious consequences for the accused — whether the accusations carry any merit or not. For more information on domestic violence or family violence go here.

Reportedly, the State Bar of Texas is recruiting Texas child custody lawyers to represent the 416 children taken into state protective custody after being removed the Fundamentalist LDS Church’s compound in Eldorado.

Reportedly, State Bar of Texas President Gib Walton reported that the State Bar of Texas has been providing free online training to all child custody lawyers volunteering to serve as attorneys ad litem for the hundreds of children taken into state custody.

Reportedly, this will be the largest child custody case of its kind ever in Texas history.

Reportedly, in the Heather Mills and Paul McCartney divorce settlement, Heather Mills was awarded a 24.3 million pound (US$48.6 million; €31 million) after her four-year marriage to the former Beatle Paul McCartney.

But reportedly judge Hugh Bennett said Heather Mills was a less than candid court witness whose original demand for 125 million pound (US$250 million; €160 million) was exorbitant.

Heather Mills’ evidence was “not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid. Overall she was a less than impressive witness,” Bennett said in his judgment.

Reportedly, Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn have withdrawn their divorce petition. Reportedly, the Marin County Superior Court commissioner dismissed their divorce petition at a hearing neither party attended.

Hollywood star Sean Penn and his actress wife Robin Wright Penn married in 1996. They filed for divorce in December, with Wright Penn citing irreconcilable differences. Reportedly, when they filed for divorce, they were seeking joint custody of their two teenage children.

Reportedly, “Jackass” star Johnny Knoxville (real name Philip John Clapp) and Melanie Lynn Clapp’s divorce papers filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court are finalized. Reportedly, Johnny Knoxville filed for divorce from his wife of 11 years last year, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

Johnny Knoxville and and Melanie Lynn Clapp married in May 1995, seperated in July 2006, and have one daughter together, Madison Tatiana Clapp, 12. Reportedly, in Johnny Knoxville’s divorce papers he requested joint legal custody and joint physical custody of their daughter.