‘90 Day Fiance’ Custody Battles: Couples Who Fight Over Kids

For better or worse? 90 Day Fiancé follows international lovers as they race to the altar to their happily ever after. What happens after, however, isn’t always rainbows and sunshine as some couples find themselves in bitter custody battles over their children.

90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days stars Memphis Smith and Hamza Moknii met online like many other couples on the long-running TLC franchise. Their relationship was rocky from the start, but the two ultimately tied the knot, In Touch exclusively confirmed in March 2022.

The Michigan native – who was already mother to two children from previous relationships – was determined to protect her children’s financial future and requested that her fiancé sign a prenup.

“Hamza and I love and have grown to trust each other,” Memphis said during her confessional on the March 2022 episode. “But at the end of the day, it is very important for me to be smart in this whole situation. If he decides he doesn’t want to be with me anymore, I don’t feel like he should be entitled to any of my assets, especially because I need to protect my kids. He already said he would sign what I wanted him to sign, but I need to make sure I can get them completed before the wedding.”

Shortly after their nuptials, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child together.

“So, I’m pregnant,” she told him during a March 2022 episode, with Hamza replying, “What? You? You playing with me?”

Rumors were swirling for months about the couple’s status and timeline of her pregnancy, until April 2022 with Memphis cleared the air with one photo.

“Breast-feeding/breast pumping mamas!! It doesn’t STOP because we work, it doesn’t STOP so we can sleep and it definitely doesn’t STOP so we can play!” the TLC star wrote alongside a photo of herself, adding the hashtag “single mom life.”

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Since their split, the couple have been tied up in a nasty custody battle over their daughter.

“In July 2022, Mr. Moknii’s attorney secured an immediate court order granting Mr. Moknii monitored visits with the couple’s minor child,” a source exclusively told In Touch that September. “As of today, and per Mr. Moknii’s post, it’s clear he has yet to exercise his visits with the minor.”

While their battle rages on, Hamza and Memphis aren’t the only 90 Day Fiancé couple who have called it quits after welcoming a child. Keep scrolling for details on all the TLC custody battles.

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Karine and Paul

90 Day Fiancé alums Paul Staehle and estranged wife Karine Staehle (née Martins) los custody of their two sons, Pierre and Ethan. While their sons were placed in foster care, Karine said that she will “never stop fighting” to regain custody. She even launched a GoFundMe page to raise money to help get her children back.

“Myself and Karine were both ordered to complete this course by CPS along with other programs and requirements,” Paul shared via Instagram in February 2023.

Deavan Clegg and Jihoon Lee

The former 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way couple share son Taeyang. Deavan and Jihoon documented their relationship during season 1 and 2 after meeting online in 2019. Deavan got pregnant during the couple’s first in-person meeting and was set to marry the South Korea native with plans for her to relocate to his home country.

The pair confirmed their split in August 2020 and entered into a bitter battle over their son. The mother of three was awarded full custody of Taeyang.

Just after his third birthday, Taeyang was diagnosed with childhood cancer and, according to Deavan, Jihoon has been absent from their lives since their divorce was finalized in May 2022.

Biniyam Shibre

The Ethiopia native first appeared on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way during season 2 with now-wife Ariela Weinberg. In addition to the couple’s son, Aviel, Biniyam is also the father to a son named Simon from a previous relationship.

After Bini’s ex-wife moved back to the United States with their son, the reality star filed a petition for join custody.

Tarik Myers and Hazel Cagalitan

90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days stars are battling Hazel’s ex for custody to bring her son to the United States from the Philippines.

Hazel said she previously agreed with her son’s father that once she settled down in Virginia with Tarik, her son would have permission to live with her, but the Before the 90 Days alum claimed he changed his mind.

“Based on the little bit I read about Filipino law, you, as the mother, have full custody, by law, by birth because you’re not married to him,” her friend and family lawyer explained about the custody process. “I don’t know what kind of shenanigans he thinks he can pull but he’s full of crap.”