The elder son of pop star Madonna and English filmmaker Guy Ritchie must live with his mother in the United States despite the teen’s wish to reside in London with his father, a judge ruled Wednesday.
New York County Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Kaplan ordered that 15-year-old Rocco Ritchie, who has been staying with his father, be returned to Madonna in New York, reported GossipCop.com.
In response to Kaplan’s query whether Rocco had been “prevented” from returning to America, Guy Ritchie’s attorney conceded it was so, saying the teen “has expressed very clearly that he does not want to return to New York.” Kaplan said it was possible for Rocco to change his primary physical custody, but that he must return to the United States in order to begin the legal process.
The judge told Madonna, 57, “I’m granting you all the relief you have requested. I’m directing the child to be returned to New York. If he wants to stay with his father, he must return to his mother.”
Rocco Ritchie will be granted a court-appointed attorney to represent him in any custody hearings, GossipCop said, and both Madonna and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” director Guy Ritchie, 47, were ordered not to discuss the case with the teen.
Madonna gave no comment as she left the courthouse, the site said. Neither she nor Ritchie had publicly indicated any custody disharmony.
Madonna additionally has a daughter, Lourdes, 19, with former companion Carlos Manuel Leon, an adopted daughter, Chifundo “Mercy” James, who turns 8 next month, and an adopted son, David Banda, 10. She and Guy Ritchie were married from December 2000 until their divorce was finalized in January 2009.
Ritchie has a son, Rafael, 4, and daughters Rivka, 3 and Levi, 1, with British model Jacqui Ainsley, whom he married in July.
