In an effort to navigate their contentious divorce and ongoing custody dispute, Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have opted for mediation, as reported by The New York Post. Attorneys representing the estranged couple appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Tuesday for a pretrial conference, revealing their plans to engage in a four-day mediation process beginning the following Wednesday.
The primary focus of this mediation will be to resolve several issues arising from their separation, with a significant emphasis on establishing a parenting plan for their two young daughters, Willa, aged 3, and Delphine, aged 1.
The legal battle has taken a dramatic turn, with Turner, 27, taking legal action against Jonas, 34, in an attempt to secure the return of their children to their “forever home” in England. It’s worth noting that Jonas had expressed his affection for this home as recently as June.
During the court hearing, Turner’s attorney, Stephen Cullen, disclosed that Jonas is seeking “50-50” joint custody of their children. Despite their acrimonious breakup, Cullen reassured the judge that both parties have been actively involved in their children’s lives, stating that “the parties are both seeing their children in a very unfettered way.”
The judge subsequently scheduled the trial for January 2, a decision that favored the Jonas Brothers frontman. Jonas’s attorney, Richard Min, had requested a trial date for the new year, as it aligns with the conclusion of his client’s tour on December 9. In contrast, Cullen urged for an earlier trial date, emphasizing that Turner has work commitments in the UK in January.
Turner’s lawsuit, filed in late September, contends that she and Jonas had previously reached an agreement to relocate their family to the United Kingdom when Jonas unexpectedly initiated divorce proceedings on September 5. The mediation process will be a pivotal step in resolving these complex legal issues and determining the future of their shared parental responsibilities.
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