Rumer Willis has been awarded primary physical custody of her 3-year-old daughter, Louetta, in her ongoing custody dispute with ex Derek Richard Thomas.
The Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood actress, 37, will share joint legal custody with Thomas, according to court documents obtained by People. The ruling also orders both parents to undergo a custody evaluation as the case continues.
Willis and Thomas, 30, have been in a legal dispute over custody and visitation after splitting in 2024. Their daughter, Louetta Isley Thomas Willis, was born on April 18, 2023.
The ruling follows months of filings in which Willis accused Thomas of emotional abuse and raised concerns about his parenting. Thomas has denied the allegations.
The Court Set a Visitation Schedule for Thomas
Demi Moore’s daughter Rumer Willis learns her fate in bitter custody row with ex over three-year-old daughter https://t.co/GNMvKU9zcj
— Daily Mail Australia (@DailyMailAU) June 12, 2026
Thomas will receive parenting time every other weekend beginning June 20, according to People. Those visits will initially be monitored by one of Willis’ nannies, with the schedule expected to transition to unmonitored overnight visitation in August.
The court also ordered both parents to participate in co-parenting counseling and communicate through a co-parenting app. Thomas’ attorney, Mike Kretzmer, told People that his client was “very pleased” with the interim custody determination and said the schedule gives Thomas a meaningful opportunity to rebuild his relationship with Louetta.
Willis Accused Thomas of Emotional Abuse
Willis had opposed Thomas’ request for a child custody order and asked for primary physical custody. People previously reported that she alleged a “persistent pattern” of emotional abuse before and after their breakup, including behavior she claimed happened in front of Louetta or while the child was in the car.
Willis also claimed Thomas’ alleged behavior affected their daughter emotionally and argued that overnight visitation should not begin without a custody evaluation. A representative for Willis did not immediately respond to People’s request for comment on the latest ruling.
Thomas Denied the Allegations
Thomas denied Willis’ abuse claims in his own court filing. According to People, he said he had committed “no acts of domestic violence in any form” and denied active coercive control.
Thomas described the former couple’s relationship as unhealthy but said it was not marked by violence, emotional attacks, or intimidation on his part. He also argued that the breakup was mutual and in both of their best interests.
In a separate filing, Thomas accused Willis of exploiting their daughter by allowing her to appear in paid advertising that he claimed included “adult sexual humor.” Willis’ representative did not immediately respond to People’s request for comment on that filing.
The Former Couple Split in 2024
Willis and Thomas had been together since 2022 and announced in December of that year that they were expecting their first child. Willis confirmed in August 2024 that she and Thomas had split.
The case later moved into court, with Thomas seeking custody and visitation and Willis asking for primary physical custody. The latest order gives Willis primary physical custody for now, preserves joint legal custody, requires a custody evaluation, and sets a path for Thomas’ visits to expand after monitored weekends begin.