June “Mama June” Shannon is facing a lawsuit from Michael Cardwell, the ex-husband of her late daughter Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell, over custody of Chickadee's 11-year-old daughter Kaitlyn.
Following Chickadee's death on December 9 at age 29 following a battle with cancer, Michael — who is father to Chickadee's eight-year-old daughter Kylee — sued Mama June, 44, for custody of Kaitlyn, Chickadee's eldest daughter from a previous relationship . The sun reported after review of legal documents.
Michael, who was given full custody of Kylee after Chickadee's death, said in court documents that he has “fully and completely assumed a permanent, unequivocal, committed and responsible role as a parent” in Kaitlyn's life.
Michael told the court that he has “consistently cared for the child and has developed a close and dependent relationship with the child.”
Michael said Chickadee “cherished and supported” him in forming an “independent relationship” with Kaitlyn, despite the fact he was not her biological father, following his split from Chickadee in 2017.
June 'Mama June' Shannon is facing a lawsuit from Michael Cardwell, the ex-husband of her late daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell, over custody of Chickadee's 11-year-old daughter Kaitlyn
Chickadee died on December 9 at the age of 29 after a battle with cancer, leaving behind two children
Michael said in the court documents, “Both petitioner and parent understood, acknowledged, accepted and behaved as if petitioner were a parent of the child and accepted full and permanent responsibilities as a parent of the child without the expectation of financial compensation.”
Michael told the court that Caleb Clark, the man believed to be Kaitlyn's biological father – he never took a DNA test that proved this, Michael said – has not been involved in Kaitlyn's life and has no legal claim after the death from Chickadee.
Michael pointed out an inconsistent relationship between Mama June — who was reportedly served with papers on Sunday, The Sun reported — and Chickadee and her children.
“Anna had a very sordid relationship with her mother all her life and went for several periods without speaking to her,” Michael told the court. “June's presence in the minor child's life was also inconsistent.”
Michael noted that Chickadee “had been raised by her maternal grandmother in Griffin, Georgia since she was about eight years old, not returning to June Shannon's home until she was seventeen.”
Michael said he has covered Kaitlyn's education costs and has been “a stable and consistent part of the minor child's life since she was eight months old.”
Michael, who was married to Chickadee from 2014 to 2017, said he “continued to care for Kaitlyn” even years after his divorce from Anna.
He said that after Chickadee's death, he is “the only living person who has taken a constant and continuing interest” in Kaitlyn's well-being, and that it would be in her best interest if he was awarded custody.
The reality TV personality was mother to two daughters, Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight
Chickadee, pictured with her daughters, died on December 9 at the age of 29 after a battle with cancer
Mama June took to Instagram earlier this month to share the sad news of her daughter's passing
Michael, who was married to Chickadee from 2014 to 2017, said he “continued to care for Kaitlyn” even years after his divorce from Anna.
Mama June told TMZ on Monday that she plans to oppose Michael in his legal efforts, and that she “could see him in court” as she tries to become Kaitlyn's legal guardian.
Mama June told me on Monday TMZ that she plans to oppose Michael in his legal efforts, and that she may “see him in court” as she attempts to become Kaitlyn's legal guardian.
Mama June told the newspaper that Kaitlyn would prefer to stay with her and her husband, Justin Stroud, and that granting Michael custody of the child would “go against her wishes.”
Mama June told TMZ that Chickadee wanted Kaitlyn to come live with her, and Michael understood that before she passed.
“At the end of the day, the girls lost their mother, so why should they have to go through this,” she told the newspaper.
Mama June said in a statement on Instagram that Chickadee passed away on December 9 “with her family around her.”
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that @annamarie35 is no longer with us,” Mama June said. “She passed away peacefully in my home last night at 11:12 p.m. She fought very hard for ten months.'
Chickadee's sister Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, 18, remembered her sibling: “Anna was in so much pain last night, but now we all know as a family that she is now at peace.” I really don't know what to say because my heart is completely broken.'