Kansas baby boomers and others who are Hollywood film fans are surely familiar with Robert DeNiro’s blockbuster movies of old, such as “Raging Bull,” “Taxi Driver” and “The Deer Hunter.” De Niro is still making movies, but he has also been making headlines lately for child custody matters involving his 7-year-old daughter. It is not the first time De Niro and his estranged wife, Grace Hightower, have gone to court over custody disputes.
De Niro and Hightower filed for divorce some years ago but ultimately wound up not going through it. In fact, they held a celebration to renew their vows. The couple were the parents of only one child at that time, a son who is now age 20. After reuniting, they also became parents to a daughter born to them through surrogacy.
She is now the central focus of upcoming court proceedings between her parents. They have once again petitioned the court for divorce after 20 years of marriage. The current custody proceedings pertain only to the couple’s daughter.
Child custody issues can be complicated, as both sides tend to be strongly emotionally invested in such situations and tempers can flare when disagreements arise. A Kansas family law attorney can act on a concerned parent’s behalf to try to diffuse such situations to help proceedings stay on track and focused on the best interests of any children involved. An attorney can also take swift action to rectify any situation where a parent’s rights have been undermined.
