Rumer Willis Awarded Primary Physical Custody of 3-Year-Old Daughter, She and Ex Derek Richard Thomas Agree to Undergo Evaluations

The former couple will share joint legal custody of their daughter

NEED TO KNOW

• Rumer Willis has been granted primary physical custody of her 3-year-old daughter Louetta amid a contentious legal battle

• Willis and ex Derek Richard Thomas will share joint legal custody and both will undergo a court-ordered custody evaluation
• Thomas’ visitation will transition from monitored to overnight in August and both parents must attend co-parenting counseling

Rumer Willis has been awarded primary physical custody of her daughter Louetta.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood actress, 37, has been granted primary physical custody of her 3-year-old daughter, whom she shares with ex Derek Richard Thomas, 40.

The two will share joint legal custody and will both undergo a custody evaluation, according to the filing. The ruling also contained a visitation schedule for Thomas, who will be granted parenting time every other weekend beginning on June 20.

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The visits will initially be monitored by one of Willis' nannies and will transition to overnight visitation with no monitoring in August.

Willis and Thomas have also been ordered to participate in co-parenting counseling and will communicate through a co-parenting app.

"Mr. Thomas is very pleased with the interim determination by the court on the custody issues," Mike Kretzmer, Richard's attorney, tells PEOPLE in a statement. "Judge White was properly focused on the issues at hand and carefully weighed the evidence presented. We are pleased that the Court established a custody and visitation order that provides Mr. Thomas with a solid and meaningful opportunity to restore and grow his relationship with his daughter Louetta."

"We look forward to presenting further evidence that Mr. Thomas is a loving, devoted and committed father to Loretta when the court again hears this case," the statement continued. "As I previously said, Mr. Thomas will try issues pertaining to custody of Louetta in court and will not distort matters by trying this case in the press."

A rep for Willis did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

The former couple has been engaged in a contentious battle over Louetta's custody over the last few months. In May, Willis accused Thomas of emotional abuse in court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

In a declaration opposing Thomas' request for a child custody order, Willis claimed that Thomas has displayed a "persistent pattern" of "insane emotional abuse" that's been occurring since before their breakup in 2024. She added that the alleged abuse was "often in front of the minor child or while they were trapped in the car with him."

She also alleged in the filing that Thomas' behavior has left Louetta "traumatized" and "crying a lot," which is why she doesn't want him to have "overnights or time with Louetta" without an Evidence Code Section 730 child custody evaluation.

Willis also said in the declaration that she is concerned about Thomas' now-fiancée, Lizzie Loch, being present during his custodial time due to his alleged "history of fighting in relationships, and in front of the child."

Thomas fired back at Willis in a reply declaration made in support of his request for a child custody order, claiming that she only made this request because she is "enraged" by their daughter's "clear affection" for Loch. He also denied Willis' abuse claims but said that their relationship was "unhealthy."

"I have committed no acts of domestic violence in any form, including any active coercive control. [Our] relationship was unhealthy and appropriately came to an end, but it was not all characterized by any violence, physical or emotional attacks or intimidation on my part," he claimed.

"The decision to end the relationship between myself and [Rumer] was a mutual decision made in our mutual best interests," Thomas continued.

Willis confirmed her split from Thomas in August 2024. The two had been together since 2022, and confirmed in December of that year that they were expecting their first baby together. They welcomed daughter Louetta Isley Thomas Willis on April 18, 2023.

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