Amber Portwood And Gary Shirley Are Headed For A Custody Battle [Report]

Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley are reportedly headed for what could turn out to be a nasty court battle over their 6-year-old daughter, Leah. According to a new report, Amber Portwood is now seeking joint custody of their child, and Shirley isn’t willing to give it to her. On July 2, a source revealed Amber Portwood’s plan to Life & Style, revealing Shirley wasn’t on board with sharing custody.

“He’s not giving Leah up, not even partial custody.”

Prior to Amber Portwood’s release from prison in November, 2013, she and Shirley often feuded about their courtship, as well as their time with Leah. Following her release, Amber Portwood was in a much better place, sober from drugs, and only drinking on occasion, and her relationship with Shirley improved. However, according to the source, Shirley doesn’t feel Portwood has made enough progress to garner her joint custody of Leah.

“He doesn’t think she would do a good job taking care of her.”

However, according to a friend of Amber Portwood, she is on the “right track,” and has worked hard to put her life back together after prison.

As the Inquisitr previously reported, Amber Portwood opened up about her desire to regain custody of Leah earlier this year, while filming Teen Mom OG. During a Featured Moment, Portwood explained that she and Shirley already share their daughter, so not much would change between them, even if the legality surrounding custody did.

“I think Leah would adjust to joint custody very well. We do it now. We practice it now. So, it isn’t a change, it’s just legal…I don’t feel any less of a mother, because I know I’m a good mom to her, and we have an amazing relationship and anybody watching this can see it, but I want to feel like I have some control. I see [Leah], and nothing is wrong with that, but I want to have a bit of say-so in everything that goes on in her life, not just because…I don’t want to be completely separated from her.”

Although Amber Portwood is active in Leah’s life, she claims it is extremely important for her to regain the rights she signed away prior to entering prison in June, 2012.

“Even though I go to school meetings and things like that with Gary, I don’t have a say-so. I don’t sign those papers, and it might sound ridiculous to some people, but in my head, it makes me feel better.”

No word yet on whether or not Amber Portwood will return for another season of Teen Mom OG.

[Photo via Twitter]