4 days ago
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The custody battle between Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor is now over.
Court documents obtained by The Daily Mail reveal the warring exes will now have joint physical legal custody over their four-year-old son Cruz, their only child together. The duo have also been awarded zero dollars in child support.
Cartwright, 37, and Taylor, 46, wed on their TV show, Vanderpump Rules, in 2019 and welcomed Cruz two years later. Their marriage crumbled on camera before Cartwright filed for divorce in 2024.
The document lays out their plans to co-parent their child together, along with the noteworthy condition that neither party can be under the influence of a substance that 'substantially impairs' their ability to care for Cruz when he is in their custody.
'Neither Party shall be under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or any other form of illegal drugs or other substance which substantially impairs that Party's ability to care for the Minor Child, while the Minor Child is in their custody and care,' the document states.
Taylor last year revealed he was clean after struggling from substance abuse and even attributed his sobriety as one of the reasons he would be taking a hiatus from The Valley. Cartwright's drinking on season one of The Valley also came under fire by Taylor.
Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor have finally agreed upon how to handle co-parenting their son Cruz together, nearly two years after filing for divorce
The documents also cover how the parents will introduce future romantic partners to their child. In the event Cartwright or Taylor begin dating someone new, they must be in a relationship with their new partner for six months before introducing them to Cruz.
They must also inform their ex in writing that they intend on introducing Cruz to their partner seven days before the meet-up.
They have also agreed not to disparage one another in front of their child and to communicate only between themselves (or a 'mutually agreed upon third party') and never through Cruz.
The parents must also celebrate Cruz's birthday together: 'Both Parties shall make an effort to celebrate the Minor Child's birthday together. In the event the Parties choose not to celebrate the Minor Child's birthday together on his birthday, the non-custodial parent shall have three (3) hours on the child's birthday to celebrate his birthday.'
When Taylor and Cartwright celebrate their birthdays, they get to spend the day with their son: 'Mother and Father shall each have custody of the Minor Child on her/his respective birthday from 8 am to 8 pm annually, unless otherwise agreed upon mutually in writing.'
A similar schedule is laid out for Mother's and Father's Day: 'Mother shall have custody of the Minor Child on Mother's Day each year from 8 am to 8 pm, and Father shall have custody of the Minor Child on Father's Day each year from 8 am to 8 pm, unless otherwise agreed upon mutually in writing.'
Additionally, the documents outline how exchanges between Cartwright and Taylor are to be handled.
'Exchanges shall take place curbside at Mother's residence when the Minor Child is getting picked up from Mother's care. Father is responsible for picking-up the Minor Child from preschool and/or occupational therapy on the day(s) when he has custody of the Minor Child.'
The exes have agreed to exchange Cruz in a 'peaceful' manner devoid of argument, sarcasm, and cruel comments.
'All exchanges are to be made in a peaceful fashion, without argument, sarcastic, or derogatory comments between the Parties and may be made by either the Parties themselves or any other designated party or mutual agreement. Neither Party shall unreasonably withhold agreement to a designated third-party adult known to the Minor Child,' it notes.
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Should parents with a history of substance abuse have extra rules in custody agreements?
The pair's love story unfolded on Vanderpump Rules before it crumbled on the spin-off, The Valley
The agreement the duo signed covers how they intend on introducing their child to future romantic partners, how they will speak about one another in front of him, and more
Cartwright filed for divorce from Taylor in April 2024, five years after they wed on camera and following a recent public separation.
The couple's early romance was chronicled on the Bravo series Vanderpump Rules and the breakdown of their marriage was captured on the spin-off, The Valley, with Cartwright revealing she had moved out their marital residence with son Cruz.
'A lot has happened with me and Jax,' Cartwright said in a confessional. 'We were already having issues all summer long, but once the cameras stopped rolling, things just seemed like they were getting worse and worse and worse.
'So about six weeks ago, I separated from Jax. I moved into an AirBnb with Cruz because Jax would not leave the house,' she said on the finale.
Cartwright said that Taylor not moving out showed his selfishness. Cartwright said she left with their three-year-old son Cruz because the situation at home was toxic. Cartwright said Taylor would come with a hangover and in the morning would be 'mean as a snake.'
'I just hit this point where I just started noticing everything that he did to me,' Cartwright said. 'It just hit me like a ton of bricks.'
Cartwright filed for divorce from Taylor in 2024 following a public separation
Cartwright said during their relationship that Taylor cheated on her, disrespected her and humiliated her.
'I have been through a lot of pain in this relationship,' Brittany said. 'I just can't deal with it anymore.'
Following their separation, Brittany revealed the real reason why they split and told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview that they had issues in their marriage for years.
She explained how the birth of their first child Cruz in 2021 made her reevaluate her marriage to the controversial Vanderpump Rules villain.
'So for me, it was just kind of like taking up for myself. Having a child really woke me up and lifted a veil a little bit of what I deserve and what I am going to put up with for the rest of my life,' she said.
'And I just knew that I had to ... figure out what I want to do for my future and make things a super positive living situation for my son. That's all that I care about.'
Cartwright also shared in April that her 'sexless marriage' with Jax made her hit her 'breaking point' and admitted they've discussed dating other people amid separation, saying 'I don't want to be unhappy for the rest of my life.'
Meanwhile, Taylor 'has been sober now for over one year and 3 months,' an insider close to Taylor told US Weekly last month.
The Shelby Township, Michigan-born TV personality is 'doing really well' as he continues to build on his success in foregoing substances such as cocaine, alcohol and most recently, marijuana.
'He had even stopped smoking weed, and it's been six months,' the source said of the former Vanderpump Rules personality.
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