Mel Gibson Settles Child Custody Dispute with Ex-Girlfriend

In an end to what is one of the bitterest child custody disputes that Pasadena divorce lawyers have come across, Mel Gibson has settled his child custody dispute with his ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. No doubt, the settlement was hard to reach, considering that this dispute involved allegations of domestic violence by Oksana Grigorieva and battery charges against the actor.

Both the star and his ex-girlfriend arrived at the Los Angeles County Superior Court where attorneys announced their settlement. Under the terms of the settlement, Oksana Grigorieva will live at Gibson's California home until their daughter, Lucia, who is currently two years old, reaches eighteen years of age. When that happens, the house will be sold and the proceeds of the sale will be put into a trust for the child. Gibson will also pay Oksana Grigorieva $750,000 in three installments.

Gibson and Grigorieva had been involved in a relationship that resulted in the birth of their daughter. However, in 2010, allegations of domestic violence began to emerge after Grigorieva claimed that Gibson had hit her and broken her tooth. In March, the two ended up in court where Gibson admitted that he slapped his ex-girlfriend during an argument because of his concern for his child. He entered a no-contest plea, and was sentenced to three years of probation. The pair broke up and agreed to a $20 million settlement.



The dispute between the two at some points grew so ugly that it was hard to believe any settlement would be reached at all. Among other things, Gibson alleged that Grigorieva tried to extort money from him beyond the settlement amount.