Guy Ritchie has allegedly hired a lawyer as he is gearing up to fight his ex-wife Madonna for custody of their son Rocco.
The British film director and his former spouse are locked in a battle over their 15-year-old son after he apparently refused to travel back to New York City from London to be with Madonna over Christmas (15). The singer went to the Manhattan Supreme Court in an effort to get a judge to demand that Rocco return to the U.S. for the festive season, with Rocco due to return to America for a hearing in February (16).
Sources have now told TMZ that Guy has hired a legal team as he wants custody of Rocco. Father and son are reportedly putting on a united front, with Rocco adamant he wants to live with Guy and his wife Jacqui Ainsley full time.
Rocco left his mother's tour to spend time with his dad, and he now apparently believes London is the place where he can be happiest. In part this is said to be because he can fly under the radar in the city, plus he likes the stability of staying in a house rather than hitting the road.
Other sources have previously told TMZ Madonna fears Guy has been speaking negatively about her to Rocco.
The 15-year-old star's relationship with his mother is said to be intensely strained at the moment, following allegations he has blocked her from viewing his Instagram profile. Rocco recently made his page on the social media site private, with claims he has completely stopped Madonna from being able to follow him.
"It's not a great sign that Rocco is blocking his mum on social media," an insider told Britain's The Sun on Sunday newspaper. "Hopefully this is just a teenage teething problem."
The superstar singer is seemingly taking these problems in her stride, as she has repeatedly posted pictures of her teenage son on her social media accounts over the festive season.
Madonna is also mother to Lourdes Leon, 19, 10-year-old David Banda, and Mercy James, nine. Guy has three kids with his wife Jacqui.
