Bristol Palin Seeks Sole Custody of Son
Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
New court documents reveal a heated custody battle between Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin, who has petitioned for sole custody over their son Tripp -- the grandson of former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
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Bristol's early November request for sole custody was made public after a Superior Court judge ruled last week against keeping the court proceedings closed, the Associated Press reports. A temporary order had authorized the use of pseudonyms while the court was considering the request, which stated that no good "could result to the child by an onslaught of media."
Johnston, 19, had pushed for open court proceedings.
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"I feel more comfortable in a public courtroom which will help everyone stay civil and be on their best behavior," he said in a statement.
Johnston is seeking shared custody and denies Bristol's claims that he has avoided his parental responsibilities, according to the Associated Press.
In addition to sole custody, Bristol -- who called her ex's recent Playgirl magazine nude photo shoot "risque" -- requested child support and asked that Johnston's mother, Sherry, not be allowed unsupervised visits with their son following her drug arrest earlier this year.
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"The best interests of the child compel the conclusion that Bristol should be awarded 100 percent legal and physical custody of Tripp, with visitation rights in favor of Levi," Bristol's attorney Thomas V. Van Flein said in the papers.
Bristol and Johnston broke off their engagement shortly after 1-year-old Tripp was born in December 2008.
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92"Bristol is not stopping him from being the father. She is doing what is best for the baby by insuring that she gets full custody and keeping bad elements away. I'm a parent and you do what's best for the baby. That is what Bristol is doing." Exactly! She is keeping "bad elements" away by stopping Levi from being the father. If single mothers think the every-other weekend screwjob keeps a father involved in a kid's life, I have a solution. Reverse the schedule every other year. If every other weekend is good for the dad, it's good for the mom. The marriage and divorce industries, and society in general, have gone way too far in empowering women to develop an entitlement mentality. Most disturbing is the notion many women (and men) have, that the mother will make the custody decision. I hear guys say junk like "My ex will let me see the kids on these days..." and it's nuts. The decision is 50% theirs, and no mother "lets" - they have domineered the father to the point of emasculation is all.
December 29, 2009 - 3:38pm Lori A Says: Hey Democrats are Dying for This White Trash Family to Run in 2012, Republicans are laughing at every stupid move YOUR President makes. Change we can believe in???? Yeah, right. Change for the worst. ************************************** Yeah, because repugnants did SUCH a good job when Bush was running the country. Conservative women are high if they think Sarah Palin the hag has a shot at being president. She's a joke.
Is this Bristols idea or her psycho mother Sarah?Sarah said she would like to raise Tripp as her own so Bristol can a life.Don't you know that when you start having kids,you give up your life.God I hope I'm dead if this woman ever gets elected to the white house.If she quit as govenor of Alaska because times got hard.What is she going to do if she gets to be president.Times are always hard when your the president.
mysticof4, i think its pretty funny that you refer to bristol as "just another spoiled rich girl." i am a teen mom and still live at home which means i dont pay the morgtage but i do pay for my daughters groceries, diapers, and everything else along with my own. my mother does not raise my child, i do! i feel incredible lucky to have a supportive family who lets me live at home to raise my child, just like bristol. so are you telling me that i am a "spoiled rich girl" because i am blessed like her. if sarah made bristol move out, the media would have hounded her for that too. and i'm sure that if you were in her position you would hate for ignorant people to call you spoiled.
The republicans should be embarrassed that they have so few real men left in their ranks that they have to put all their faith in a loser like sarah. She already lost one election and now they are hoping she'll RUN AGAIN because thats how few male winners they have left. She is the reason I left the republican party and became a libertarian. There are no real men left in the party. So now they have to put their faith in some former beauty queen with 11th grade level english skills. What happened to the great orators in government of the past? But, she's a tard. The only reason she even got elected to anything is because she is good looking for an old bag and past studies have shown that looks matter in elections. (she's good looking in theory. I dont know what she looks like without cosmetics and dyes. Thats always more sobering). But this isnt about her politics (she already lost it for the republicans) and this isnt about her looks (theoretical looks). This about the fact that a mature woman is waging war with a little 19 year old boy and using a baby as her weapon. What a sad loser. If she were a REAL mature woman with a REAL sense of responsibility... she would say "of course he should get joint custody. He is the daddy".
Babies are not pawns. Sarah Palin just wants the embarrassment of Levi to go away and she figures the harder it is for him to see his son will make him go away completely. She is an ass. That baby deserves both of his parents. Period. Sarah Palin has no right to condemn ANYONE for poor parenting. The way she exploits her children for political leverage is gross as are the people who support it. The reason sh wanted it behind closed doors is she doesn't want her slack mouthed lemmings to see what a nasty, vindictive, horrible human being she is in her REAL LIFE. Not the winky, cutie, plucky, take on the world gal you dum dum's elevate her to. Leave that boy alone, GO LEVI!!!!!
Levi just turned 19 and he is doing fine for himself. He also got his GED, just like Bristol. He has his own place, unlike Bristol, He pays his own bills, unlike Bristol, who is still getting free healthcare for herself and her child. She just turned 18, born in 1991 (prior to the computer scrubbing) where she was aged a year. I hope for Levi's sake, there IS a paternity test.
Bristol sold her BODY and soul to Candies shoes - the ads ooze teenage sex and Bristol proudly represents them and teen pregnancy.
Why is Bristol the more responsible one? Because she has Sarah as her mother? Levi is out there working so what if it is for Playgirl he is still working isn't he. Sarah has made it perfectly clear that she doesn't want Levi near Tripp. Do you personally know Levi and that he has not tried to see his son?? all we know is what Sarah and Bristol are throwing out there. She is no more mature than he is when she is living in her own house and raising that child on her own (paying her own bills lights, gas morgage, food) then I will believe she is more mature than Levi..until then she is just another spoiled rich girl.
Ha, ment to blurt out THIS SORT OF NONSENSE DOESNT HAPPEN IN STABLE FAMILIES. Duh, cut and paste has sunk me again...
What do you all expect from white trash from Alaska? Two mediawhoring families who would never make any sort of impact outside of the frosty crap-hole that is Alaska. Who didnt see this coming the first time you saw these two stupid young people (who obviously have missed out on good parenting)? Seriously, who cares anyway? THIS SORT OF NONSENSE HAPPENS IN STABLE FAMILIES. Ill repeat that. THIS SORT OF NONSENSE HAPPENS IN STABLE FAMILIES. And some of you wanted "Mother of the Year" Sarah as our VP. SHE CANT EVEN HANDLE HER OWN FAMILY! LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What do you all expect from white trash from Alaska? Two mediawhoring families who would never make any sort of impact outside of the frosty crap-hole that is Alaska. Who didnt see this coming the first time you saw these two stupid young people (who obviously have missed out on good parenting)? Seriously, who cares anyway? THIS SORT OF NONSENSE HAPPENS IN STABLE FAMILIES. Ill repeat that. THIS SORT OF NONSENSE HAPPENS IN STABLE FAMILIES. And some of you wanted "Mother of the Year" Sarah as our VP. SHE CANT EVEN HANDLE HER OWN FAMILY! LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are these judges at all educated in matters of child development? It appears they are just out to make a name for themselves. How disgusting! When would it ever be in the best interest of a child to make this custody battle into a media circus? If Levi Johnston was mature enough to be a custodial parent, he would not be posing for Playgirl. Even more important, he would not be trying to promote himself by trying to make his family's private business public in this fashion. The boy needs to grow up. He is not ready to have custody of a child. Just because some people don't like Sarah Palin as a politician doesn't mean her daughter isn't a more fit parent than this boy who is sowing his wild oats in the spotlight.
December 29, 2009 - 1:51pm The Palins Are Morons Says: Is this Bristols idea or is it her psycho mothers?I heard the psycho wants to raise the kid as her own.What has Bristol given up besides her virginity? The dad has given up his college education and hockey career at anchorage so he can get a job and take care of his son. ************* What college education? He dropped out of high school to get a job, which he quit to pose naked and become a celebrity. Other than the ridiculous magazine gig what job has he had? If I remember correctly, this website also posted an article on how Levi was planning on spending 3 months in the gym to prepare for his little magazine appearnce. Granted, it's likely he didn't spend 10-12 hours a day in the gym, but it seems that looking good for the camera had more of a priority than spending time with his child and finding a more respectable way to help support him. I'm sure the couple of talk show appearances he did were not taped in Alaska so there was more time he spent away. Bristol did not get pregnant by herself and she's not running all over the place trying to be a celebrity. He is just as responsible for her pregnancy as she is. He's just mad because she found out after the fact what a moron he really is. Plenty of us have been there, myself included. So many people are making this a political issue. This should not be political, it's a family and parenting issue, irregardless of political views.
Just because you ask for full custody does not mean you are cutting the other parent out thof the equation. She is asking that he pay support and take advantage of his visitation rights which to date he admits he has been a little too busy to do.As far as all of you people hoping that this will cast a bad light on Sarah ~ shame on you. Don't you think if the press could dig up dirt on her it would already be in the news? Sad, sad, sad. Bristol only wants Levi to grow up and be a dad. Speaking of dad's we know all about his mom and nothing about his dad. Perhaps he doesn't know how to be a good dad since his dad is also out of the picture?
OH, to the nimwit that said Levi gave up college and a hockey career ~ He did not carry the baby for 9 months. Who said he had to quit school or hockey? Bristol has her HS diploma and is taking college classes as well as working. Seems that she is the more responsible one in this picture. If the press had info that Sarah was beingd this that would have been the title of this sad article. Levi is making something out of Sarah not Sarah herself.
Okay, getting full custody does NOT mean she doesn't want him to be involved in the childs life. She has NOT kept him away from his child, he has chosen to be away, making major bucks doing interviews and posing nude. This baby he loves, how much money did he spend on his child? Bristol has waited a YEAR for him to get it together. Babies cost money. She is working a normal job and taking care of their child. Notice she also is asking that he take advantage of his rightful visitation rights that he HAS been neglecting. No where does it say that she is asking him to give up his parental rights. Two totally different things people!
This is betweeen Bristol & him-i dont see where Sarah is involved-u people who run down this young girl are stupid-she is obviously the more mature of the 2-and he has not given up on anything to care for his son-hes running around like a mediahore that he is-meanwhile Bristol is at home taking care of the baby-she should have full custody-and yea i think the other grandmother shouldnt have unsupervised visits either!!
WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IN GOOD FOR THE GANDER !..... :) Remember, Bristol's aunt on her father's side was arrested for doing something unlawful just a few months ago! So in all fairness, perhaps Levi will use some of her un-savory relatives actions against her in his fight to share custody of his child. But who on earth would have ever thought we would be discussing this mess when Sarah P. had Levi stand up with Bristol and her bulging belly,.......... along with her entire family, on the stage during the 2008 Presidential Campaign ! Ya know, when the "intended marriage was forthcoming !
Ok, maybe you people aren't reading this right or just have absolutely no idea about custody battles. She isn't denying him his son, she's just seeking to make herself sole legal guardian. That doesn't mean his son won't be in his life or he'll never see him, he'll be allowed visitation rights. Before you start bashing on her for wanting to protect her child why don't you read and get your facts straight. What is also sad is some of you commenting on what kind of mother Sarah Palin is, you weren't raised by her and have absolutely no idea what kind of parent she is. You go to liberal media outlets for your information, which sad to say have their own agendas and don't always put out truthful information.