Jaime King is facing significant legal challenges surrounding her custody agreement, as she has been ordered to complete a six-month rehabilitation program focusing on sobriety. According to documents obtained by E! News on March 17, 2025, the ruling was part of the custody arrangement with her ex-husband, Kyle Newman, who has been awarded sole physical custody of their two sons, James and Leo.
The court determined this order necessary after assessing King’s current situation, concluding she needs to finish the drug and alcohol program, complete weekly testing, engage in aftercare, and participate in both a 12-step program and 26-week parenting course. Until she fulfills these requirements, King will only be allowed supervised visitation with her children three times weekly.
King’s grandmother, Nancy King, sister, Sandy Larson, brother-in-law, Andy Larson, along with Newman’s brother, Kevin, have been listed as mutually agreed supervisors for her visitation, which will remain supervised until otherwise ordered by the court. Per the arrangement, King can have access to her children on Tuesday and Thursday for two hours and for four hours every other Sunday.
This latest ruling marks another chapter in King and Newman’s tumultuous separation, which began with King filing for divorce after 13 years of marriage back in May 2020. Allegations surrounding substance abuse have clouded their custody battle from the very beginning.
Just months after filing for divorce, King alleged domestic violence by Newman, claiming he staged an intervention concerning her supposed misuse of drugs and alcohol. Despite these claims, King stated during the proceedings she was cleared from any misconduct after being dismissed from treatment shortly after admission since no drugs or alcohol were found in her system. Conversely, Newman countered these allegations with serious accusations of his own, describing King as “a chronic drug addict and alcoholic who refuses to acknowledge her problem.”
This custody battle has revealed deep underlying tensions between the pair. A spokesperson for Newman insisted, “He remains entirely focused on putting the children's stability and welfare first,” emphasizing his goal is to create the best possible environment for their sons.
“Kyle wants nothing but the best for his whole family and hopes Jaime can find the peace and help she needs,” the spokesperson added on his behalf, showcasing his commitment to parenting during this ordeal.
On the other side of the spectrum, King’s attorney, Diana D. Hagopian, expressed strong objections to Newman’s allegations, labeling them as unfounded attempts to garner media attention. “Mr. Newman’s previous requests have been denied entirely by the court,” she stated, framing the accusations as harmful to King’s reputation and character. “It’s unfortunate he continues to utilize the court to file malicious claims.”
Despite the incredibly public discourse about their private family matters, both parties seem to acknowledge the necessity of working together for the sake of their children. The latest court agreement stipulates they are not to disparage one another when communicating with the boys, aiming for stability amid the chaos. “Jaime is intent on achieving a peaceful and harmonious coparenting process,” her lawyer noted.
The couple's contentious relationship has been incrementally detailed since their separation. After requesting support modifications and accusing one another of not adhering to custody agreements, they both showed willingness to comply with court-imposed arrangements. Yet, unforeseen challenges continue to plague King, particularly concerning her perceived struggles with substance misuse.
Revisiting events leading up to this moment, reports note the intense verbal exchanges about their children's wellbeing have included King filing for emergency requests to cease child support payments, claiming she lacked the capability to fund such obligations.
Newman has retaliated, accusing King of neglecting compliance with both child and spousal support orders. Their legal narrative is riddled with confusion, accusations, and contrasting narratives of accountability and dysfunction.
Every facet of their dispute has painting complex parental dynamics, showcasing how two individuals, once partners, have emerged distinctively on opposite ends during their separation. King’s newest challenge is underlined by the need for stabilization not only for herself but for her sons, who are intimately affected by their parent's discord.
Naively, one might hope this new structuring of visitation and parental responsibilities would ease the strain on the family dynamic, but with everything at stake, the future remains uncertain. King will likely focus on successfully completing her rehabilitation process, setting the stage for future interactions with her children, and her ultimate goal of restoring relationships entwined once again by family but overshadowed by very personal allegations of neglect and discord.
For now, the court has laid terms to aid King’s recovery and to enforce compliance around her engagements with the children, with significant emphasis on supervised visitation. But it remains to be seen whether the healing process will inform future custody arrangements or if disputes will continue to direct the narrative of King and Newman’s family life.
With rising speculation and intermittent tensions throughout this custody saga, observers are left to wonder if the provisions set forth by the courts will facilitate any semblance of peace or reconciliation between two parents wrestling with their shared past and dictation of parental futures.
