Besides the guaranteed visitation dates, what control does Larry have over who is executer and trustee? I’m not even going to pretend to understand this.
Inside the Dannielynn Custody Battle
April 20, 2007
New dad LARRY BIRKHEAD and ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s estranged mother, VIRGIE ARTHUR, faced off in family court today in the custody battle over baby DANNIELYNN. Anna’s partner, HOWARD K. STERN, was also in attendance.
After a quick court session, both Howard and Larry say the end is in sight, but it appears there will be at least one more hearing before a resolution in the case.
“It was a good day for me in court,” Larry told ET.
“It’s disappointing because Virgie is doing the wrong thing,” Howard added.
According to our sources, Virgie’s Bahamian attorney has a full calendar and won’t be able to address the court until a much later date. As it so happens, the judge assigned to the case had previously arranged to take a month off, so it is likely that there will not be another court session specifically related to Virgie’s custody concerns until the middle of June.
Sources also tell ET that Virgie was scheduled to have a one-hour visit with Dannielynn today.
There will be a hearing next week to discuss travel plans for Dannielynn so she can visit the States. Virgie is allegedly unhappy because she has petitioned for Dannielynn to stay in the Bahamas until the custody battle is resolved.
Sources tell ET that Virgie’s legal team hopes that this will turn into a full-blown trial. However, many others feel that is not going to happen.
In the meantime, the little girl will remain in the Bahamas at the only home she’s ever known. She will be under the watchful eyes of Larry and Howard this weekend, as they continue to slowly transition her into Larry’s care.
As for Virgie’s reported demands, “I don’t know what she wants,” Larry says in the new issue of OK! magazine, on stands now.
Last week, Virgie’s Bahamian attorney told our KEVIN FRAZIER that she would “be seeking joint guardianship” of Dannielynn.
“Larry and I will work it out,” Virgie added.
After DNA testing established Larry as the biological father of Dannielynn, Howard stated that he wanted Larry to get sole custody of the seven-month-old girl, and to have complete discretion of when the transition will take place.
Both Larry and Virgie have met privately — with and without their attorneys present — to discuss custody of Dannielynn, but it seems from Larry’s recent OK! interview that they have been unable to reach an agreement.
“If she wants to be a grandmother, that’s fine,” he tells the mag. “I have a mother that wants to be a grandmother and she’s not asking for all these things, so it’s kind of puzzling.”
“I just want to take my daughter home and start a life with her,” he continues. “I already went through a battle to prove that she was mine, and now here we go with possibly another battle.”
In the meantime, Larry has been put on the fast track to fatherhood, and he’s loving every minute of it.
“She has her mom’s long legs and she’s just beautiful,” he tells OK! “She likes me to make funny faces, funny noises and do silly voices for her. It’s so rewarding.”
Larry says that one of his biggest surprises in taking care of Dannielynn was his tolerance for dirty diapers!
“As long as she’s happy, you don’t care what it is,” he explains. “It’s the little things that mean the most to me: the way she looks at me when I do something for her that she really likes.”
Larry says he knows the road ahead will be difficult, but he’s ready to take on the challenge of parenthood with the support of family and friends.
“It’s [a road] that I’m definitely going to be able to handle,” he says, pointing out that he went to baby-care classes right before Dannielynn was born to learn how to change a diaper, hold a baby, bathe a baby, feeding tips and more. “My sisters have babies and have been great. Even Howard has been helpful. He gives me credit when I’m doing good things and gives me tips on things I should do a little different.”
Larry says that despite the awkwardness of the paternity battle he engaged in with Howard, the two are working together for the smooth transition.
“You can’t worry about that stuff too much,” says Larry. “I’m thankful that everyone can get along for Dannielynn. How could you not? She’s so sweet and so cute, arguing is just going to hurt her and not help us any.”
http://www.etonline.com/celebrities/spotlight/47856/index.html
Maybe that is why HKS is still involved in the custody case...maybe HKS has to agree to let Virgie take over as Excutor and Trustee?? That would explain why Larry stated that everything went well for him in court today...It would also mean that HKS is the reason for the DELAY...not just Virgie. It sounds like Larry wants sole custody and he’s got that, but HKS won’t ‘give up’ the precarious hold he has as Executor of the Will and Trustee (of Dannielynn?). Maybe he was hoping the will would be upheld in CA and Daniel’s name would be replaced with Dannielynn’s??
Who knows?? That’s as likely a scenario as some of the others. Does anyone else think this is plausible? It would explain why HKS is still involved in these custody hearings, and why HE is the one who seems ANGRY, not Larry!