Your Legal Guide Through Life’s Twists And Turns

Father of Palin’s grandson plans to seek child custody

| Aug 17, 2012 | Child Custody and Visitation

Sarah Palin, the former governor of our largest and northernmost state, made her national debut four years ago as Sen. John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate and has not strayed far from controversy or news headlines ever since. As most readers in Tennessee will remember, one of the biggest controversies Palin has been associated with arose during the campaign itself, when reports surfaced that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter Bristol was pregnant.

Some of that controversy was quelled with the later announcement that Bristol Palin was engaged to the baby’s father, Levi Johnston. That marriage never took place however, and the couple parted ways with an agreement that Palin would have primary custody of the couple’s son Tripp while Johnston would have visitation rights.

Their agreement also contained a clause prohibiting either parent from publicly disparaging the other — a provision both Palin and Johnston continued to abide by until recently.

Now — after viewing an episode of the Lifetime reality TV show “Bristol Palin: Life’s a Tripp” in which his 3-year-old son throws an expletive-laden tantrum — Johnston reportedly called his ex-fiancee a terrible parent and issued a statement to ABC News expressing his intent to seek full or joint custody of Tripp.

According to TMZ, the 22-year-old Johnston has been appalled by Tripp’s behavior and language on the show and has taken at least some steps toward filing a formal child custody petition. He has also reportedly said that he will do “whatever it takes to make sure he is raised the right way.”

Source: ABC News, “Bristol Palin’s ‘Life’s a Tripp’ Reportedly Prompts Levi Johnston to Consider Full Custody of Son,” Aug. 7, 2012

Archives

FindLaw Network