Halle Berry filed a formal court response Wednesday pushing back on ex-husband Olivier Martinez’s request for a domestic violence restraining order, while asking the court to grant her sole legal custody of their 13-year-old son, Maceo.
Berry, 60, claims Martinez, 60, is responsible for a recent escalation in Maceo’s behavior at school, accusing him of interfering with the boy’s educational and therapeutic needs, dragging him into the couple’s legal fight, and undermining her parenting decisions over several years.
If the court won’t grant sole legal custody, Berry wants final decision-making power over Maceo’s education, medical care and mental health treatment whenever she and Martinez can’t agree after trying for 72 hours.
Her lawyers point to prior court findings that Martinez failed to comply with orders, interfered with services for Maceo, and caused unnecessary legal fees through his conduct. Berry argues things have gotten worse since a temporary restraining order took effect October 1.
“Since the issuance of the Temporary Restraining Order on October 1, 2026, Maceo’s behavioral issues at school have significantly escalated,” the filing states.
The filing cites an October 10 letter from Park Century School Associate Head of School Sara Love, along with concerns raised by staff member Jon Hay, describing what Berry’s lawyers call “an escalating disregard for school rules, authority, and appropriate peer interactions at a critical juncture in Maceo’s development.”
Specific incidents cited include disruptive behavior, harassment of a younger student, inappropriate language and throwing objects. Maceo reportedly received a full week of detention starting October 12.
Berry also flags Maceo telling school personnel he plans to switch to a different school, Wildwood, next year instead of returning to Park Century — a statement she says shows he believes he can make major decisions about his future without his parents’ agreement.
Additional school correspondence in the filing, predating the current restraining order, describes earlier trouble with following directions and physical behavior toward peers, plus a September 18 exchange about professional recommendations and the existing week-on, week-off custody schedule.
Berry contends the temporary restraining order could set back Maceo’s behavioral progress, arguing she has historically been the parent who enforces discipline and pursues therapy for him.
Under her proposed custody plan, Maceo would attend individual therapy weekly for at least a year, plus joint therapy sessions with Berry. She wants to choose the therapists and control scheduling.
Her attorneys go further, accusing Martinez and his legal team of misleading the court and withholding information. They’re asking the judge to deem Martinez’s testimony unreliable, while urging caution around Maceo’s own statements, arguing the family conflict could be distorting his recollection and that pulling him deeper into the dispute risks more emotional harm.
Berry also disputes Martinez’s claims about her alcohol use and is fighting his requests for alcohol testing and related restrictions. She’s asking the court to reject his financial demands too, including changes to child support and a request that she cover his legal fees.
On communication, Berry proposes the two parents use the co-parenting app OurFamilyWizard, with rules limiting each to one non-emergency message a day, 48-hour response windows for routine matters, and five hours for anything urgent.
The filing includes supporting declarations from Berry’s fiancé, musician Van Hunt, 56; her daughter Nahla, 18; and school staff, among other material.
Berry and Martinez married in 2013 and filed for divorce in 2015. Their divorce was finalized in 2023 with an agreement for joint legal and physical custody of Maceo.
Representatives for both Berry and Martinez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
