Mama June Shannon’s custody battle with late daughter Anna Cardwell’s ex-husband Michael Cardwell officially ended Friday with the Mama June: Family Crisis star being awarded full custody of her granddaughter Kaitlyn.
On Friday, a Georgia judge ruled that “legal and physical custody of [Kaitlyn] is to remain with [June] and [Michael] will have no right to visitation as such, unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the parties and [Kaitlyn].”
As The Ashley previously told you, Anna passed away from cancer in December, leaving behind two young daughters– 11-year-old Kaitlyn and eight-year-old Kylee. Following Anna’s death, Kylee was sent to live with her father, Michael, while June was preparing to take custody of Kaitlyn, whose biological father has not been in her life.
Instead, Michael went on to file for custody of Kaitlyn, noting that he has been in Kaitlyn’s life since she was a baby, and is already raising her half-sister, Kylee. Shortly after Michael filed a petition for custody, June responded by also filing.
In Touch Weekly was the first to report the news.
In court documents obtained by The Ashley, it was noted that prior to Anna’s death, Michael “regularly kept [Kaitlyn] when he would exercise visitation with [Kylee].” The documents also stated that at the beginning of the 2023 school term, Kaitlyn stayed with Michael “for up to five weeks.”
Despite this, the judge ruled that Michael “never provided any significant financial support” for Kaitlyn.
The Ashley can confirm that the judge pointed out that Michael was offered the chance to adopt Kaitlyn during his marriage to Anna; however, Michael allegedly “refused because he could not afford the adoption.”
It was also noted in the order that the court heard testimony from Kaitlyn, who expressed that she wished to stay with her grandmother. Kaitlyn’s therapist also testified, during which she claimed that Kaitlyn “fears being taken away” from her grandmother.
The Ashley can confirm that Kaitlyn took the stand and expressed her desire to stay with June. Months earlier, Kaitlyn submitted an affidavit in court that stated that she did not want to live with Michael and wanted June to get custody of her. (In the state of Georgia, minors involved in a custody battle who are 14 or older have the right to select who they want to live with, provided the option is deemed suitable. Since Kaitlyn is only 11, she did not have this choice; however, starting at age 11, a child in Georgia can file an Election in court that states which parent/person they prefer to live with.)
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Though Michael argued in his petition that being awarded custody of Kaitlyn was in the best interest of the child and that Kaitlyn will “suffer physical harm or long-term emotional harm” if he is not granted custody, the judge ruled that Michael “failed to demonstrate” these arguments.
“ … the Court finds that the minor child will not suffer harm if [Michael] is not granted equitable caregiver status,” the order states.
In addition, the judge ruled that Michael “did not establish standing as an equitable caregiver” and, therefore, the judge denied Michael’s petition stating that he did. According to the judge’s order, Michael would have had to have “full and permanent acceptance of the responsibility of ‘parent’ without expectation of financial compensation.” According to the judge, he did not do this.
Earlier this month, Michael’s fiancée, London Smith, denied that she and Michael were not allowing Kylee to see Kaitlyn– a rumor that June’s daughter Alana Thompson had proclaimed on social media in July– calling the claim “dead wrong.” London went on to reveal that Kaitlyn and Kylee are able to communicate with one another now, unlike a few months ago when she shared on social media that the sisters weren’t able to speak as much.
June went on to confirm in the comment section that Kaitlyn and Kylee do have access to each other, with London noting that she and Michael are trying to work with June and her family so that Kaitlyn and Kylee can continue to have a relationship.
Earlier this month, London hinted in a Facebook post that Michael had lost his custody battle against Mama June. She stated that Michael and his family— who had considered Kaitlyn as a family member since she was an infant— were devastated about having Kaitlyn taken away.
“Our family just went through a life changing event,” London wrote on Facebook in early September. “My fiancé lost a child he calls his and raised for 11 years. My fiancés mother and father lost a granddaughter that they have loved and made memories with for 11 years.
It does not appear that Kaitlyn was in attendance for Michael and London’s wedding, which took place over the weekend. Although Kylee was featured in many of the wedding photos posted by the newlyweds, Kaitlyn was not shown and does not appear to have attended.
A case status hearing has been scheduled for October 3.
RELATED STORY: “She Said Yes!” ‘Mama June: Family Crisis’ Star Jessica Shannon Is Engaged to Girlfriend Shyann McCant
(Photos: WeTV; Instagram; Facebook)
15 Responses
Oh good! I’m so happy that the judge was able to recognize that the man who raised and loved that girl as his own along with her little sister was no match for the crackhead grifter who gave up a child, dated & brought the ped0 who abused her daughter into her home, constantly exploits her family for that sweet financial gain, and brainwashed that little girl! The best interest of the wallet was recognized – that girl is so lucky! <3 <3 <3
Honestly though, shame on them for not having this figured out before she passed. No excuses.
I hope when this little girl becomes an adult she can see what’s been done to her and try and get some help.
Michael most likely didn’t adopt Kaitlyn when he was young and married to Anna because it is an expensive process and he probably couldn’t afford it back then and never foresaw something like this happening. I’m sure he regrets it now.
He paid for her when he was married to Anna (I believe she was a SAHM back then) and he continued to willingly pay for her schooling after the divorce and presumably paid for her expenses when she’d stay at his house. But just because it wasn’t official child support, it doesn’t count? That’s crazy.
Of course Kaitlyn says she wants to stay with June. She gets to be on TV, she gets expensive trips, there’s probably little discipline, and she’s probably being promised that she’ll have a huge Coogan account at her disposal when she turns eighteen (which we all know she won’t). Michael probably actually treats her like a daughter and has rules and discipline because, unlike June, he cares how she turns out.
This is just such a sad situation and no judge should ever award June custody given her track record. If you gave me the choice of leaving my kids to June or turning them loose in the woods and hoping for the best, I think they’d have a better chance with the latter.
I totally agree with you, but I’m laughing at my desk right now because you literally just “chose the bear” for your children and you’re not wrong…
Atrocious & appalling. Letting that little girl live with a monster who doesn’t even have a damn couch
What is wrong with that judge?!
Anna was negligent with her kids even before her diagnosis. And the judge deeming June a fit caregiver over Michel just because she shares DNA with Kaitlyn is even more negligent.
June was f*cking Anna’s abuser even after he got out of jail for those crimes, she’s not fit to take care of a cactus, let alone a little girl. May God help her.
Interesting a judge thought June is a fit guardian for a child when she lost custody of her own children and has been a sh!tshow her entire life.
But honestly, all the adults effed this up. If it’s true that Michael had a chance to adopt Kaitlyn, that was boneheaded to not go through with it. And Anna not figuring this out when she got her diagnosis makes no sense to me.
Wow! What a FU**ed up Judge, Anna is rolling over in her grave. June only wants this kid for a monthly paycheck and so she can claim her on her taxes.
Poor kid..
However, this all could have been avoided with simple legal forms.
I realize a lot was going on at that time, but future care of the children should have been a priority.
Especially when one of the guardian options has a reputation for drugs and bad men like she does.
Right? It’s not like the the backup option was the aunt who parents like it’s 1999, but would be fine as long as someone purchases and installs booster seats and introduces her to the concept of “drinking water”.
absolutely. disgraceful.
After what happened to Anna by one of Mama June’s boyfriends I don’t think any minor should be in her custody.
Should be raised by the father.
Anna never said who Kaitlyn’s father is