Chris Rock Fighting For Custody Of Daughters

It was just days ago that Chris Rock announced his divorce from his wife of 19 years, Malaak Compton-Rock, but already there is contention over custody of the couple’s two daughters.

Court papers obtained by TMZ state that Rock accuses his soon to be ex-wife of keeping their daughters from him. Rock filed the paperwork last Tuesday, December 23, in New Jersey and stated that Compton-Rock has been preventing him from seeing his two girls “on a regular basis.”

Rock is asking for shared legal and physical custody of the girls, Lola, 12-years-old, and Zahra, 10-years-old.

Malaak Comtpon-Rock wants something a little different, though. Rock’s ex is asking for sole custody of the two children.

Malaak having sole custody could cause quite a problem for Rock as a source told the Mirror that Rock “lives for his children.” Although he has spent much time on tour and working, Rock has always made his two girls a priority, stating that Rock puts them first. Even when working, he makes sure it is “scheduled around being able to take his daughters to school and to pick them up.” Not having shared custody will surely hurt Rock more than any financial loss.

In the paperwork obtained by TMZ, Rock could possibly be trying to reduce spousal support as he was quoted as saying about Malaak that she has “the ability to work and contribute to her own support.”

While the couple did have a prenuptial agreement before their 1996 marriage, Rock is said to claiming that it “expired” and “became void after 18 years of marriage.”

Rock and his wife have had many issues in the past, and they have surprised many by staying together for as long as they have. The couple has been known to separate and get back together again, but according to TMZ, Rock doesn’t want to continue in a marriage that is no longer “fulfilling,” and the two will not be getting back together this time.

The couple was once thought to be splitting up back in 2007, and then in 2010, when there were rumors that Rock had fathered a child with another woman, but the two remained together.

Although it definitely looks like quits for the two, it appears there might be a long battle ahead of them. With Chris Rock looking ready to argue the validity of their prenuptial agreement and disagreements over custody, it appears that the divorce is going to get a little messy.

[Photo Courtesy of Zimbio]