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Madonna and Guy battle for custody of kids
By Robert Mendick, Evening Standard Last updated at 12:28pm on 11.12.08Madonna and Guy Ritchie remain locked in a legal battle over custody of their children, it was revealed today.
The couple, who divorced last month, have still to thrash out an agreement over access rights and where the children should live.
On his bike: Guy Ritchie, cycling home, may insist on Madonna buying him a New York flat
A source close to the case said: "Both sets of lawyers have still got their heads down. It is very complicated."
Negotiations over the children are difficult because of Madonna's apparent determination to move back to the States. They are made even more complex by the fact that the father of her eldest child, Lourdes, lives in New York.
Madonna and Ritchie have one natural child from their eight-yearmarriage - Rocco, eight, whom Ritchie is said to dote upon. They adopted another son, David, three, from Malawi. It has been reported that Lourdes, 12, has been pulled out of the Lycée Francais Charles de Gaulle School in South Kensington while Madonna has allegedly been looking at a French school in New York. The chances of Ritchie ensuring his sons stay in London - against
Madonna's wishes - are slim, but he is in a strong position to negotiate. The source added: "Ways need to be found to tie up claims both in New York and in London."
With his mum: David and Madonna
One source suggested Ritchie, who left the marriage with almost none of his wife's estimated £300m fortune, may insist on Madonna buying him an apartment in New York as part of a deal to allow the children to live in the city. She cannot take them to live permanently in the US unless Ritchie or an English court gives permission.
The source said Madonna, 50, had still to sit down with film director Ritchie, 10 years her junior, to work out whether the children would live permanently in New York or stay in London, where they have grown up.
The pop star is represented by Fiona Shackleton, who handled Sir Paul McCartney's and Prince Charles's divorces, while Ritchie has hired Helen Ward, who secured Britain's biggest divorce payout.
He has also hired Stephen Cobb QC, an expert in the " international relocation of children".
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Reader views (6)
Well Ali Schilongo
You dont need to be a rocket scientist to see what her wordload is like and where she is in the world to get an idea of how hectic her schedule and lifestyle are do you???
And I will bet my last £ that she buys and lives in an apartment. And out of interest what would you call up rooting her children and taking them away across the world away from their father????
She's a selfish woman!
- Janey C, inverness scotland
Linda... Uhm... why is it unnatural for a man to live with an older woman! I take it you are of the old fashioned, outdated and frankly insulting view that its ok for men to live with younger women but not for women to live with younger men! You do know what century this is don't you?!
- Kathy, london
I take it Janey C that you are a close family friend and as such are privy to the exact way that Madonna runs her household and the way she raises her children?...No - I didn't think so...but please, far be it from me or anyone else to stop you, seeing as how you seem to be such a first hand authority on how and the way in which Madonna raises her children....
- Ali Sichilongo, London
Gosh leave the poor woman alone. She hasnt done anything to you has she. Guy was paid high sum by here as well as a few properties. He has not walked away empty handed as reported, Saint Guy.
- K Lewis, Australia
Divorce can be ugly. Children need both parents if they are lucky. Children are always at the center of acrimonous divorce of amicable ones. Only the law can decide. No one can tell who the selfish or unselfish one is among the two of them by reading tabloids. I only hope the kids enjoy to some reasonable extent staying with both parents. They could look at the positive side. The get to spend time in the UK and the US.
Madonna is 10times his senior, what did he expect when he married an older woman. It is unnatural to live with an older woman. Only one person assumes control, one way or another. My only concern is for the kids not for the two grown up adults who didnt handle their r/ship business apprioprately.
- Linda Nia, Milton Keynes, UK
Its just lovely to see the equally lovely Guy laughing and apparently happy.
This is really difficult, I mean the children could stay here in the UK and have a good, sensible grounding for adulthood OR be dragged over to America to suit their selfish mother!
Does she have no concience about Rocco if not David?? All they have ever known is their father being there for them and being able to spend time with him, now she wants to be in control of even her the emotional contact of her children and their father.
She is never at home anyway for long periods of time so why not let the boys stay with their father who would be their for them most mornings and evenings.
I can't imagine how many 'uncle daddies' they will be introduced to if allowed to go and live in a flat in NY - Yes you may call it the posh word - Apartment but it is a 'flat' - no garden, with heavy traffic and noise and lots of 'assistants' to assist with her frenetic lifestyle!
Surely the boys would be better in the Wiltshire home, going to the school with friends they have always known?
- Janey C, inverness Scotland
