Halle Berry & Olivier Martinez Agree On Co-parenting Therapy

The former power couple recently agreed to enter co-parenting therapy/coaching sessions for their minor son, Maceo Robert Martinez. The news was unveiled in legal documents obtained by The Blast, capturing the duo’s willingness to work together.

The co-parenting agreement marks a significant improvement in Halle Berry’s and her ex’s relationship as they have garnered much attention for their tumultuous divorce and custody proceedings.

In the legal documents, Berry and Martinez agreed to appoint Dr. Jaye-Jo Portanova as their co-parenting therapy/coaching conductor. The therapist’s role is to help them:

“Resolve disputes and conflicts between them in an effort to successfully co-parent the parties’ minor child, Maceo Robert Martinez (“Maceo”), in a manner that promotes Maceo’s best interest.”

To achieve this goal, Dr. Portanova will have access to Maceo’s school and anyone she deems necessary for the parties’ co-parenting therapy/coaching. This includes Berry’s beau, Van Hunt, who can participate in the counseling sessions.

However, his attendance will be based on Dr. Portanova’s recommendation and approval. The therapist is responsible for determining the manner, structure, and length of the sessions and their frequency.

According to the documents, Berry and Martinez will attend individual sessions with Dr. Portanova before the commencement of their joint co-parenting therapy/coaching.

“The co-parenting therapy/coaching shall commence with the parties participating in no less than six (6) conjoint co-parenting therapy/coaching sessions with Dr. Portanova,” the documents read, noting these counseling events must be completed by June 14, 2024.

Following their sixth co-parenting therapy/coaching session, Berry and Martinez, alongside their attorneys, will participate in a conference with Dr. Portanova. There, the therapist will decide whether the former couple shall continue the counseling gig.

If Dr. Portanova believes the sessions are helping the exes’ co-parenting relationship and recommends that it be beneficial for it to continue, Berry and Martinez will remain in therapy for a year.

As for the cost of these therapy/coaching sessions and any preliminary one-on-one sessions, the former couple are expected to foot the bill equally. They will continue to do so if Dr. Portanova decides to prolong their counseling after the sixth appointment.

If Berry or Martinez disagree about splitting the therapy bills, the Court has the right to determine the appropriate allocation of cost between them.

However, if Dr. Portanova determines that co-parenting therapy/coaching is ineffective, she will recommend an earlier termination date. Until then, their proceedings will remain confidential, and the therapist cannot be called as a witness related to these discussions.

As stated, the co-parenting agreement marked a significant improvement in Berry and Martinez’s willingness to work together for their son. In August 2023, The Blast reported the duo took the first step in resolving their differences with a child custody settlement.

Although they separated in 2015, it took eight years for Berry and Martinez to accept joint legal and physical custody of their son. Their agreement stressed that the pair would maintain an amicable co-parenting relationship, with the terms noting:

“In exercising joint legal custody, each Party shall consult and cooperate with the other to reach a mutual agreement with respect to issues affecting Maceo’s health, education, and welfare, and neither Party shall make unilateral decisions impacting Maceo.”

“Each Party shall keep the other Party informed of all matters pertaining to Maceo’s health and/or illness, education, and general welfare,” the rules continued, stating that Berry would have control of her son’s US passport. Meanwhile, his French passport would remain in his father’s hands.

Although Berry and Martinez had joint custody of their son, the actress covered most of the bills. She agreed to pay her ex $8,000 monthly in child support and 4.3% of any income she receives above $2,000,000.

The “X-Men” actress also agreed to fund her son’s extracurricular activities, such as soccer. These payments will go to the institution that provided these services rather than Martinez’s account.

However, Berry agreed to refund Martinez the 2023 payment for their son’s soccer program after he provided proof that the payment was at most $3,500. The reimbursement extended to the 2023-2024 school tuition her ex-husband covered.