Olivier Martinez has filed new court documents requesting an increase in monthly child support payments from his ex-wife Halle Berry, following a shift in their custody arrangement for their 13-year-old son, Maceo. Previously, both Martinez and Berry had 50/50 custody, but a judge recently granted Martinez primary physical custody.
According to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail, Berry has been paying Martinez $8,000 per month, plus an additional 4.3% of any income exceeding $2 million annually, for child support for Maceo. This arrangement has been in place for over three years. In his recent filing, Martinez declared an average monthly income of $776.34 from residuals over the past year, with average monthly expenses totaling $17,555.99.
The documents argue that child support should reflect the parents' income and the child's entitlement to share in a lifestyle consonant with their parents' financial position, especially when one parent has an "opulent lifestyle." Martinez's filing notes that the needs of a child of "extraordinarily high earners" are met when child support allows the child to experience a lifestyle similar to that of the highest-earning parent, including financial security and suitable housing.
Martinez stated in the documents that he is seeking a guideline calculation of child support, but needs further discovery to determine the exact amount as Berry has not yet filed a current income and expense declaration. He noted that based on publicly available information, Berry has been involved in recent film projects, including "Crime 101" and is working on "Fleur" and "Red Card."
The legal dispute involved accusations from Martinez that Berry had physically abused their son, allegations the actress has denied. A judge dissolved a temporary restraining order that Martinez had filed on behalf of himself and Maceo. While Martinez was awarded primary physical custody, Berry retains joint legal custody and the tiebreaker vote in case of disagreements.
Berry's attorney, Marina Beck, stated after the ruling that they are "extremely pleased that the Court has dissolved the TRO" and that Berry is "determined to continue to focus on the well-being and best interests of her family." Martinez expressed a hope for improved relations between Maceo and his mother, telling Extra, "I truly hope Maceo and his mother will be able to have a better relationship in the future.... I don't want my son to hate his mom. I want him to love her. I want him to forgive her, and I want them to reconciliate in some sort at one point."