Morena Baccarin's custody battle with her estranged husband Austin Chick is getting complicated. The two are reportedly in a bi-coastal custody battle more than four months after filing for divorce and two months after media reports confirmed that the former "Homeland" actress was expecting a child with current boyfriend and "Gotham" co-star Ben McKenzie.
Baccarin and Chick have one child together - 2-year-old son Julius Setta Chick - and share joint custody of the boy. However, a judge decided that Julius would live in New York City with his mother while she shoots the FOX drama. Chick agreed to stay in NYC in an apartment Baccarin rented for him so they could co-parent together.
Chick would also be allowed to bring Julius back to L.A. for a week every two months, but only if he provides proper advanced notice. A judge ordered the actress to pay for her son's flights when traveling with his father, according to TMZ.
Despite the prearranged agreement, Chick has reportedly "changed his mind" about relocating to the Big Apple. Legal documents obtained by People Tuesday stated that Chick decided to return to Los Angeles with his son after learning that Baccarin "had a new boyfriend."
Chick "shipped some furniture there and actually stayed there with the child for approximately two weeks in July. Apparently he changed his mind and returned to Los Angeles with the child when he learned that [Baccarin] had a new boyfriend," according to the legal papers.
A judge reportedly declined Chick's offer for Julius to spend one week per month in L.A. and another week in New York on a monthly basis. However, the judge stated that traveling back and forth would not be in Julius' best interest, according to the Daily Mail.
Due to her pregnancy, the 36-year-old Brazilian-born will not be able to travel back and forth from Los Angeles and New York. Baccarin and Chick were married for three-and-a-half years. Chick filed for divorce in June, citing "irreconcilable differences."
A hearing for custody and spousal support will happen on Nov. 19.
McKenzie and Baccarin made their first public appearance as a couple at FOX's 2015 Emmy Awards after party. Baccarin and McKenzie are expecting their first child together, as previously reported by HNGN. This will be first child for the "O.C." alum and the second for Baccarin, who said that she intends on marrying McKenzie as soon as her divorce from Chick is finalized.
