Custody Battles

Angelina Jolie has an endgame in her claims Brad Pitt abused one or more of their children -- she wants to move to London with the kids and score a top position in the United Nations ... sources connected with the couple tell TMZ.

Several well-placed sources say Brad and Angelina have not gotten along for more than a year, and she's been looking for an opportunity to end the marriage and bolt for her dream job ... with all 6 children in tow. We're told she knew that would be nearly impossible unless Brad's right to joint custody was in jeopardy.

As we reported ... Angelina told L.A. County Dept of Child and Family Services officials Brad brutalized Maddox on a private jet and engaged in other conduct that endangered the children. We know Brad strongly denied intentionally striking Maddox or engaging in any abuse, and DCFS clearly saw it his way ... closing out the investigation without taking any action.

Our sources say Angelina's move to involve DCFS was orchestrated by 2 women she's been relying on for advice for more than a year. One is a member of England's House of Lords, and the other also holds a U.K. government position. We're told they've been in Angelina's ear, convincing her she could become Secretary General of the U.N. if she plays her cards right.

Angelina, who has been paying both women handsomely for their consulting services, is all in and taking their cue that a move to London would help get her closer to the U.N. gig.

The rub, of course, is in order to take her kids out of the country ... she'd have to prove some sort of parental unfitness on Brad's part. So far she's struck out.

Jolie's rep denies there's a move planned and says Angelina is focused on the health and well being of her children. The rep adds, Angelina wants to continue therapy with the kids and Brad.

Our sources are clear and insist Europe and the U.N. post is the ultimate goal.

The custody war is now in family court -- she wants sole physical custody and he wants joint. We're told Angelina has a slim to none chance of taking the kids 6,000 miles away from Brad.

Brad Pitt's child custody arrangement with Angelina Jolie is in the hands of one man ... according to docs filed by Jolie.

Right now, the exes and their 6 kids are operating under a temporary custody deal agreed upon by both sides. As we've reported ... she has primary custody and Brad gets monitored visits, but the docs Angelina filed spell out the details.

According to the docs ... when and how Brad sees the children is determined by a psychologist who specializes in child custody issues. The deal says, the "frequency and conditions of the therapeutic visitation shall be determined by Ian Russ, Ph.D." Brad and Angie also must participate in group therapy sessions with the kids.

The terms of this deal must stay in place until there's a court order, or both parents agree to change it.

Additionally, the docs say Brad will submit to random drug and alcohol tests at least 4 times per month.

Pitt and Jolie made this arrangement in October, while Brad was still under investigation by the DCFS, but as we've reported ... the agency cleared him of any wrongdoing a month ago.

Jolie's filing essentially memorializes the temporary deal with the court. The judge signed it on Friday.

Lena Headey has pulled out the big guns in her custody war -- passing a letter to the judge from the "Game of Thrones" Executive Producer demanding her presence on the set.

Lena and ex-hubby Peter Loughran are in a 'GoT' war over custody of 6-year-old Wylie. Lena is begging the judge to modify the current custody order and allow her to keep the boy in the UK, where she films the show. Peter is dead set against it, claiming it would deny him access to his son.

The current order allows Lena to take the boy to the UK only when she films, and Peter says she should be done shooting and wants Wylie back. So Lena has now brought in the ultimate doctor's note from EP Bernadette Caulfield, who says she must stay in the UK for "possible addition scenes and pick-ups" through February 2017.

It's interesting ... the letter does not say her services are definitely necessary but, as you know, winter is coming, so she has to be on call.

Lena wants to move to the UK permanently, because her family is there and she thinks the schools are better. She also says she's paying Peter $10k a month in child support and he hasn't even seen the child in the last 3 months.

Only thing missing between 'Real Housewives of New York' star Jules Wainstein and estranged hubby Michael was some actual slimy mud during a vicious back-and-forth slinging in court.

The estranged couple appeared in court Wednesday in NYC for a spousal and child support hearing that quickly went south ... with their lawyers going at each other's throats with allegations of money troubles, drug use and being unfit parents.

Michael painted Jules as someone living way beyond her means ... whose spending quadrupled when she joined 'RHONY.' Michael pointed to a $40k AmEx bill in 2015 and $2k spent on Uber the first 15 days of October.

He also brought up Jules' history of drug use documented on TV ... to which the judge snapped back by saying, "I don't decide my cases based on what's on TV."

Jules admitted to making $60k during her 1 year stint on 'RHONY' while she was married. She blamed Michael for a pile of unpaid bills and not having filed proper tax returns in nearly a decade.

She said Michael doesn't deserve more time with their kids. She claims every other weekend is more than enough, since all he does is pawn the kids off on their nanny.

The judge made no decisions, saying they need to resolve their money issues first. Same goes for custody ... though the judge added there could well be a trial.

Morena Baccarin is fighting her ex-husband, mosquitoes and a ticking clock ... all to get her son to Brazil to visit her dying grandmother.

The "Gotham" star's asking the court to force her ex-husband, Austin Chick, to let her take their 3-year-old, Julius, on the trip. According to docs, Morena asked Austin last month for his consent, but he refused due to new info regarding Zika. He cited the CDC, which says it doesn't know the long-term risks for kids who contract the virus.

Morena has no such worries, and says Julius' pediatrician agrees ... Zika is "not a concern" for Julius.

She also says Austin thinks Brazil is just unsafe, which Morena says is B.S. because he never complained when the family traveled there before the divorce.

Amanda Stanton's monthly checks from her ex just got slashed by almost 75% ... but at least her fiance's still by her side.

Amanda and her fiance, Josh Murray, were together in family court when Amanda lost a battle in her ongoing custody and child support war with her ex-husband, Nick Buonfiglio.

Nick wanted to pay less child support to the "Bachelor in Paradise" star for their 2 daughters, and the judge agreed -- cutting his payments from $2k a month down to $530.

The reasoning is simple -- Amanda admits she's making more cash after being on 'BiP' ... while Nick says he's had financial hardships.

A story is circulating Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have settled their custody dispute ... total BS.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation are scoffing at the report that the divorcing couple struck a settlement giving Angelina primary physical custody while Brad got visitation.

TMZ broke the story ... Brad filed legal docs Friday sharply contesting Angelina's request for primary physical custody. Instead, Brad wants a judge to award joint physical and legal custody to both.

The report published by Associated Press cites an Angelina source who says the couple reached the mutual agreement which includes family therapy. In fact, the couple agreed to extend the temporary arrangement ONLY until the L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services closes its investigation.

As TMZ and other outlets reported, Brad and Angelina agreed she would have physical custody during the DCFS investigation and Brad would have visitation monitored by a therapist. That agreement was extended last week, but it is NOT a settlement. That will be handled by the family court judge.

Again, Brad just filed docs Friday asking for joint custody, and the AP report says the couple reached a settlement last week, so the story makes no sense on its face.

Angelina Jolie is ready and willing to fight Brad Pitt in court over the custody of their children and "until he gets his s**t together" she only wants him to have monitored visitation ... sources connected to Angelina tell TMZ.

TMZ broke the story, Brad filed legal docs Friday, asking for joint custody of the couple's six children. Angelina has drawn a line in the sand, asking for primary physical custody, with Brad getting visitation ... our sources tell us she wants the visits monitored.

Angelina's wish list is basically what she and Brad agreed to temporarily while the L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services investigates a confrontation between Brad and Maddox. As we reported, DCFS is looking more broadly at interactions in the family.

Our Angelina sources say she ultimately wants the family repaired so she and Brad can resume a "normal" parenting regime, but until then she will fight hard for sole physical custody. She believes Brad has substance abuse and anger issues that must be addressed.

One Angelina source said this is looking more and more like "War of the Roses redux."

Brad Pitt has just set the stage for a custody war ... asking for joint custody of the 6 kids he shares with Angelina Jolie ... TMZ has learned.

Brad answered Angelina's divorce petition and squarely takes issue with her request for sole physical custody of the kids. She wanted Brad to only have visitation.

TMZ broke the story, Angelina checked the box for sole custody after Brad allegedly struck Maddox on a private jet.

FYI ... California judges favor joint custody, unless it would be harmful to the kids.

Neither Brad nor Angelina mention spousal or child support.

Brad gives the same separation date as Angelina ... Sept. 15th.

Lena Headey violated her custody agreement with her ex-husband by keeping their son in the U.K., and a judge has just ordered her to come back to L.A. with the kid after the show wraps.

Ex-hubby Peter Loughran was in court Wednesday when the judge made it clear ... the 'GoT' star went crosswise with the 2013 custody agreement by enrolling 6-year-old Wylie in school without Peter's permission.

Peter wanted Wylie returned stat -- the boy was supposed to come back Sept. 5th -- but the judge agreed with Lena that she could keep Wylie in Europe until shooting is over before returning to L.A.

Lena wanted to keep Wylie in England permanently, because she felt the U.S. school system sucked.

The custody agreement gives Peter visitation 10 days a month. Until Wylie comes back home, Lena has to pay for Peter's travel.

Uma Thurman is stuck between a rock and a hard place ... if she shoots a movie she won't see her daughter. That's the predicament she's in, thanks to her baby daddy.

Uma's ex-fiance, Arpad Busson, just filed legal docs asking a judge to prohibit her from taking their 4-year-old daughter to Europe while she shoots a movie ... sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ.

We're told Uma has been blindsided by the latest conflict ... she's supposed to leave in 2 days.

Arpad wants the kid to stay put in NYC, so now a judge will decide ... possibly creating a real-life "Sophie's Choice" for Uma.

TMZ broke the story ... Uma and Arpad's nasty custody battle heads to court in a few months to hash out visitation rights.

Lena Headey has had it with her ex-husband's demands to move their kid from the land of fish and chips to the city of sushi ... she's now asking a judge to end the war.

The "Game of Thrones" star is locked in a legal battle with Peter Loughran over their 6-year-old son Wylie. Lena claims she and Peter agreed they would both live in England to share joint custody, but he insists he never made such an agreement and wants his time with Wylie at his L.A. home.

Lena says in legal docs she's beyond frustrated ... she's offered to fly him to England to see the child, she's suggested a FaceTime schedule and he keeps telling her to pound sand.

Lena attached an email to her docs in which Peter says, "I am confirming that I agree to Lena Headey keeping our son Wylie Loughran in the UK ... if all parts of said deal are put in place ..."

Brad Pitt will not file a legal response to Angelina Jolie's divorce petition because it would set the stage for a nasty legal battle ... and he fears it would cause great psychological damage to their kids.

Brad's legal answer was supposed to be filed Wednesday, but the deadline came and went. Sources close to the case tell us ... Brad wants joint legal and physical custody, but if he actually filed papers it would draw the battle lines. Angelina wants sole physical custody, setting up a possible custody war.

Angelina could set the wheels in motion for a default judgment since Brad hasn't answered her petition, but we're told that is not going to happen. She agrees ... healing the family is the priority, not starting a war.

There's something else here at play. The L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services is still investigating the airplane confrontation between Brad and 15-year-old Maddox, and Brad will be in a much stronger position if DCFS closes the case before he files his answer.

Our sources also say there's a chance the whole divorce case could settle privately without any dueling divorce docs. And, we're told, on that goal both Angelina and Brad agree.

Ludacris has the final say when it comes to what his baby mama can and can't post on social media about their 3-year-old ... so says an ATL judge.

In docs filed Wednesday in the rapper's child custody case with Tamika Fuller ... the judge said Luda can force Fuller to remove any pics of their daughter she might post, if he doesn't approve. The judge also ruled neither parent can use the kid in interviews, articles or for GoFundMe pages.

Luda's also the official decision maker now when it comes to his daughter's school, doctor and religious upbringing.

Luda and Tamika have been locked in this nasty custody battle for years. Tamika even got Child Protective Services involved, at one point.

Uma Thurman's baby daddy doesn't deserve more visitation with their daughter -- because she says he's been a flaky father who has rarely seen the girl.

Sources connected to the case tell TMZ ... when she and ex-fiance Arpad Busson head to court in a few months, Uma will argue Arpad cancels his scheduled time to see their 4-year-old "7 times out of 10."

We're told Arpad is the one who's asking the judge for more time, but our sources say these are just "bullying tactics." Our sources say he gets a significant amount of custodial time currently, yet doesn't come close to taking advantage of it.

Sources say Uma wants to co-parent with Arpad, but only if the agreement is healthy for the whole family.

We're told when it comes to sharing custody, either she or a nanny has to take the child to London or the Bahamas, where he lives, because he won't take the time to pick her up.

On a separate note ... we're told Arpad wants Uma's engagement ring back. But she's gonna fight it because she claims it was gifted outright after the engagement was cancelled.

Angelina Jolie will not cooperate with law enforcement if there's a move to file child abuse charges against Brad Pitt ... TMZ has learned.

Our Angelina sources say she's adamant ... Brad should not face criminal charges for getting physical with 15-year-old Maddox on their private jet. We're told she'll go "radio silent" if authorities make a move to build a case against her estranged husband.

We're told Angelina was forthright with the L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services, telling social workers Brad struck Maddox (in the face).

Other sources say Brad did not strike his son in the face, but instead lunged at him and Angelina got in the way, causing Brad to inadvertently make contact with the boy's shoulders.

Angelina, we're told, has a singular focus ... protecting her kids, not punishing Brad.

DCFS does have the authority to recommend custody restrictions to the dependency court, although it's looking more and more like it will not reach that stage. Furthermore, given there were no injuries to Maddox and conflicting accounts of what happened, prosecution is also unlikely.