Custody Battles

Actor Jason Patric just scored a huge court victory against his ex Danielle Schreiber, who used his sperm to conceive a son artificially -- a judge just ruled Patric can fight for custody of the child.

Patric had previously been shut down by another judge last year in his bid for parental rights. The judge ruled -- since Patric donated his sperm to someone to whom he wasn't married and the woman conceived with the help of a doctor-- he had no paternity rights or claim of custody.

Patric later appealed the decision -- and he just WON.

It's a groundbreaking decision ... the appeals judge ruled Patric is entitled to seek paternity rights.

Paulina Rubio and her ex-husband are in an international tug of war over their kid -- she's accusing him of lying about plans to take their son out of the country ... while he claims she's blocking him from seeing the child.

We broke the story ... Rubio and Nicolas Vallejo-Najera have been battling over their 3-year-old son, Andrea ... accusing each other of violating the timeshare agreement.

In new court docs, Vallejo-Najera claims he hasn't been allowed to see Andrea for weeks -- forcing him to file an emergency motion late last month demanding Paulina hand over the kid ... so he can fly to Spain.

In her own docs, Rubio accuses her ex of constantly changing travel dates -- and she claims the real motive for the trip was merely to use their son in a set-up photo shoot with paparazzi.

Sherri Shepherd and her husband have an unborn baby ... and he wants the kid. And here's the real twist ... she's not pregnant.

Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ ... Sherri and Lamar Sally have hired a surrogate who is carrying their baby, and the estimated delivery date is July 28th.

TMZ broke the story ... Lamar filed legal docs to end the marriage. The docs are for legal separation, but we're told the only reason the divorce box wasn't checked is because Lamar has only lived in California for 3 months and there's a 6 month residency requirement. He will change it to divorce in 3 months.

According to Lamar's legal docs, he wants full legal and physical custody of the unborn child, and wants Sherri to ONLY have visitation rights.

Sherri has not responded yet.

Lamar also wants spousal support and he wants the prenup invalidated based on FRAUD.

"Modern Family" star Ariel Winter broke down in tears in court just moments ago ... after her mom played a schmaltzy home video of Ariel's childhood memories.

Chrystal Workman played the video for the courtroom as a weird last ditch effort to get her daughter to change her mind about living with her older sister Shanelle ... instead of with her mom.

Chrystal told the court she would relinquish her bid to reclaim her parental rights over Ariel -- after a judge stripped her of custody in 2012 -- if Ariel agreed to watch the video ... which she did.

The home video contained piano instrumentals and pictures from Ariel's childhood -- as a baby, from school, of the whole family together, and more.

Ariel, Shanelle, Chrystal, and several other members of the Workman family were in tears as the video played -- but Ariel didn't change her mind ... and the judge signed off on Shanelle's permanent guardianship.

"America's Next Top Model" star Eva Marcille has upped the ante in her restraining order battle against her baby daddy -- she's now wrangled full custody of their baby daughter... at least for now.

TMZ broke the story ... Eva obtained a restraining order against ex-BF Kevin McCall last month after he allegedly went on a rampage in their home, kicking down doors and trying to snatch their daughter from Eva's arms.

The restraining order barred Kevin from coming within 100 yards of them, but now Eva has been given full custody of their daughter ... and Kevin has been denied ANY visitation ... at least until a hearing next month.

Eva's rep tells us, "It is unfortunate that life has thrown a curve Into Eva's life but as a responsible parent and adult she's taking steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their child and herself."

Calls to Kevin weren't returned.

Bethenny Frankel's divorce has dragged on so freakin' long that now she has to fork over $100k just to cover her soon-to-be-ex husband's legal fees -- even though they've yet to agree on terms for a divorce settlement.

According to court docs ... Frankel has to immediately hand over what amounts to an advance payment to Jason Hoppy's attorney. The docs stipulate the $100,000 will be subtracted from whatever financial settlement Jason ends up getting from Bethenny ... presuming they ever hammer out a deal.

Frankel filed divorce docs in Jan. 2013 ... and they've been battling over money and custody issues ever since.

Frankel sold the Skinnygirl brand for about $100 mil, so technically 100K is a drop in the bucket -- but since it's going to her ex's lawyer ... we doubt there's a smiley face on the check.

Master P's estranged wife wants a $67 million parting gift from her marriage -- claiming she deserves a HUGE chunk of the rapper's empire ... which includes a small city worth of properties, a fleet of expensive cars, and more.

Sonya Miller just filed legal docs in the couple's bitter divorce, estimating the total value of community assets from the marriage at $178,743,300 -- including 31 properties, 13 cars, 45 companies, and other stuff. She wants nearly 40% of everything.

According to the docs, the real estate properties are spread across Cali, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia -- she wants eight of them. She also wants one of their three large chandeliers (valued around $300,000 a pop).

Sonya estimates the value of Master P's businesses -- including No Limit Records -- at $136,101,000 ... and wants $54 million of that. She also wants $10 million of Master P's "Make 'Em Say Ughh!" energy drink company.

Other stuff -- Sonya wants her $28,000 wedding dress ... and ONE of Master P's 13 cars (the Escalade). Master P also owns a black Rolls, a green Bentley, a Porsche, a Jag, another Escalade, and several other ridiculous vehicles.

All told, Sonya is demanding $67,647,800 -- leaving Master P with a measly $111,095,500.

UGHH!!

This is not a trick, Michael -- "Arrested Development" star Will Arnett has officially filed for divorce from Amy Poehler ... nearly two years after the couple separated.

According to court documents, Arnett wants joint legal and physical custody of their two sons aged 5 and 3. He also wants visitation.

43-year-old Arnett and 42--year-old Poehler got married in 2003.

Since they separated, Arnett has reportedly been dating Billy Joel's ex-wife Katie Lee and Poehler has been linked to comedian Nick Kroll.

Jermaine Jackson is reeling over Debbie Rowe's comment that Michael Jackson told her his brothers were talentless .... saying Michael owes his fame to his older siblings.

Jermaine was blunt in Calabasas Monday, telling TMZ, "If it wasn't for the Jackson 5 there would be no Michael Jackson," adding, "That's what gave him the launching pad to become what he became."

You have to watch the whole video. It's shocking.

Jermaine also addresses Debbie's claims he's using MJ's kids to mooch off the estate.

Jermaine suggests he doesn't need the MJ estate's money because he made a fortune with the Jackson 5 -- tell that to the baby mama who's been hunting him down for child support for years.

Luis Miguel has dodged his responsibility to his kids by hiding behind gates and bodyguards ... playing a cruel game of catch me if you can with his flesh and blood ... according to his baby mama.

Aracely Arambula filed legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- in what has become a 2-year ordeal to serve him with legal docs in their child support war.

Arambula -- a Mexican soap opera star -- claims Miguel is like the Road Runner ... gleefully dodging process servers, most notably in front of a TMZ camera at a 2013 California county fair. Luis claims service wasn't legal, because the guy never came face-to-face with him.

Arambula says she was given an anemic offer of $15K a month in child support for their 2 kids -- ages 5 and 7 -- yet in 2009-10, she says he raked in $24 MILLION for his concert tour alone.

She wants $60K a month minimum, but he went radio silent last year and now he says he's moved from California to Florida so she has no legal right anymore to drag him to court.

Arambula outlines the lengths to which she's tried serving him, only to be thwarted by Luis' massive gates protecting his Bel Air home.

Michael Jackson's brothers are refusing to allow Debbie Rowe to wrestle guardianship of Prince and Paris from the kids' grandma -- at least if they can help it -- telling TMZ, Debbie abandoned her kids for cash after they were born ... and hasn't cared about them since.

Tito, Randy, Jermaine, and Jackie tell us, "[The children] are well loved and well taken care of. We are quite taken back [sic] that Ms. Rowe has decided now to enter their lives, after she abandoned her children many years ago for money."

The brothers are referring to Debbie agreeing to give MJ full custody of Prince and Paris after giving birth to them ... in exchange for a lump sum of money.

The brothers insist the Jackson family -- Katherine included -- wants only the best for Prince and Paris, adding, "Our only desire is to see our niece and nephews continue to go on with happy, healthy and safe lives. We will do everything and anything with in our power to help make that happen."

Debbie Rowe will wage legal war to get guardianship of the 2 kids she had with Michael Jackson ... and if she could she'd gladly take all 3.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Rowe is deeply concerned about the environment in the Jackson home. She likes Katherine Jackson but believes she has gotten way too old to serve as guardian ... "Katherine's not connected with the kids or involved in their lives" Rowe told a friend.

Rowe is also concerned Michael's brothers are hanging around the Calabasas house a lot and have been a terrible influence. She's complained Prince has developed a filthy mouth and is rebellious because no one is even trying to keep him in line.

Rowe is especially upset with Jermaine, who will appear on "Celebrity Wife Swap." Rowe thinks he's just plain creepy and extremely inappropriate, and wants him as far away from the kids as possible.

She feels Blanket --- the 12-year-old who is not her biological kid -- is actually the most vulnerable and most in danger.

As for Paris ... Rowe fears she's not made the kind of improvement which is necessary after her suicide attempt and wants control so she can take steps to ensure her safety.

TJ Jackson is a co-guardian ... we're told Rowe likes him but is worried that he's been on tour and away from the kids for long stretches.

Rowe will file legal docs asking the judge to appoint her guardian so she can move the children to her ranch in Palmdale CA, where she has a business raising and breeding horses.

Fact is ... Rowe has not asked the Estate for money and our sources say she's not interested in a payday. She wants the kids because she loves them and fears for their well-being.

The hammer just came down on The Game after he allegedly attacked his ex-fiancee during a domestic dispute last month -- TMZ has learned, the rapper has been ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from her.

Tiffney Cambridge obtained the restraining order against Game on April 2nd, barring Game from having any contact with her whatsoever ... pending a court hearing later this month.

The judge is allowing Game to see his kids on the weekends.

TMZ broke the story ... Cambridge filed a police report against Game, claiming he got violent with her during a March 19th argument. Sources close to Cambridge told us Game broke her nose, but Game denied ever laying a finger on her.

Master P's estranged wife is worried sick -- claiming the rap icon has abducted three of their kids over the last two months ... and is now refusing to bring them back home.

Sonya Miller just went to court to request an emergency custody order, forcing Master P to return the kids to their mom asap.

She claims Master P first nabbed 13-year-old son Hercy after picking him up from school in February, then did the same thing with their 9-year-old son Mercy in March. Around the same time, Sonya claims their 17-year-old daughter Tytyana ran off to live with her dad and won't come back.

The ex-couple also has a 14-year-old daughter named Italy, but she's still with her mom.

There's currently no court order in place regarding custody or visitation (since Sonya only recently filed for divorce) so Sonya also asked the judge to award her full physical custody ... at least for now.

As we reported, the ex-couple's divorce has been acrimonious -- Sonya claims Master P left her so destitute she needed welfare.

Sophie Turner -- the hot blonde model who's been linked to Jeremy Piven -- will soon be free to date openly again ... because her husband just filed for divorce ... and it looks like he's out for blood.

In the divorce docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Gianmichele Gennari wants physical and legal custody of their 7-year-old daughter, Angelica.

As we reported ... Gennari claims Turner effectively abandoned their family from time to time, choosing to hit the town till all hours of the morning ... sometimes with Piven. He says she pretended to be single -- not wearing her wedding ring -- and acted hot to trot.

Gennari wants full physical and legal custody of their child. He ONLY wants her to have monitored visits. He also wants her to pay him spousal support.

"Modern Family" creator Steve Levitan is being dragged into Ariel Winter's gnarly custody battle ... and it's all because Steve allegedly wrote a letter to authorities saying she should be free -- ON "MODERN FAMILY" LETTERHEAD!

Ariel's mom Chrystal Workman filed court docs claiming Levitan recently wrote an emancipation letter to dependency court on her daughter's behalf -- and claims he had the nerve to write it on the show's stationery.

Workman says she wants to grill him in court for sticking his nose in family business.