Rumer Willis Wins Primary Physical Custody of 3-Year-Old Daughter After Contentious Legal Battle With Ex
Rumer Willis has received a major interim victory in her custody dispute with ex Derek Richard Thomas over their 3-year-old daughter, Louetta. According to court documents obtained by People, Willis was granted primary physical custody, while the former couple will share joint legal custody.
Under the order, Thomas will have parenting time every other weekend beginning June 20. Those visits will initially be monitored by one of Willis’ nannies, but the arrangement is set to shift in August to overnight visitation without monitoring. The court also ordered both parents to undergo a custody evaluation and participate in co-parenting counseling. In addition, Willis and Thomas must communicate only through a co-parenting app.
The custody battle follows the couple’s 2024 breakup and has included serious allegations from both sides. Willis previously raised concerns about domestic violence and other troubling behavior, and her mother, Demi Moore, became involved in the case with accusations that Thomas was aggressive and did not provide adequate financial or physical support for Willis or Louetta. Thomas denied those claims and made counter-accusations, including alleging that Willis used their daughter in sponsored social media content containing adult sexual humor without his permission.
After the ruling, Thomas’ attorney, Mike Kretzmer, said his client was “very pleased” with the interim decision and praised the judge for carefully weighing the evidence. The attorney said the order gives Thomas a meaningful opportunity to rebuild his relationship with his daughter. He also said Thomas intends to continue addressing custody issues in court rather than in the media.
Willis has not publicly commented on the ruling. For now, the court’s decision marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute and gives Willis primary physical custody as the case continues. The custody evaluation, counseling requirements, and structured visitation plan suggest the legal fight is still far from over.
The case has drawn attention because of the serious allegations involved and the high-profile names connected to it, but the immediate outcome focuses on stability for Louetta. With joint legal custody in place and a phased visitation schedule for Thomas, the court appears to be laying out a temporary framework while more evidence is reviewed. The next stage of the case will likely depend on the custody evaluation and any additional findings presented before the court.
