Jax Taylor, Brittany Cartwright Reach Custody Arrangement in Divorce

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Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright are making progress in their ongoing divorce.

After five years of marriage, the couple—who split in August 2024—have finalized arrangements for their 4-year-old son, Cruz, regarding both custody and financial support, TopMob News reported on March 10th.

According to court documents filed on March 9th, Brittany and Jax are sharing legal custody of their son, Cruz, and will both be involved in major decisions about his health, education, and well-being. However, Cruz will primarily live with Brittany, while Jax will have him every other weekend and on Wednesday evenings.

As part of their agreement, Brittany and Jax will share time with their son, Cruz, on holidays. Brittany will have him on her birthday and Mother’s Day, while Jax will spend time with him on his birthday and Father’s Day. They also plan to celebrate Cruz’s birthdays together as a family in a friendly way.

Both parents agree they won’t pay traditional child support. Instead, they’ll each cover the costs of caring for Cruz while he’s with them.

The agreement also includes rules for both Jax and Brittany, requiring them to stay sober – meaning no alcohol, marijuana, or illegal drugs – while they are responsible for their son, Cruz.

The former stars of Vanderpump Rules have also agreed to wait at least six months before introducing any new partners to their child.

Reps for the Bravo stars declined to comment.

This deal represents significant progress for Jax, 46, and Brittany, 37, who have been involved in a nearly two-year dispute since their split.

Last summer, Brittany described her divorce as very difficult, mentioning they were still arguing. However, she recently praised Jax for choosing not to be on season three of The Valley, stating it was a good choice for everyone involved.

Shortly after that, Jax publicly apologized for his past actions. The apology was featured on the second season of the Bravo show, and came after he finished treatment for substance abuse and mental health challenges.

During a June 2025 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, he expressed regret for his past behavior, stating, “No one should have to experience what I put people through. I’m truly sorry anyone had to witness that kind of verbal abuse.”

See what really happened with Jax and Brittany’s divorce on season three of The Valley, premiering Wednesday, April 1st, at 8 p.m. on Bravo.

In the meantime, keep reading for a full timeline of the exes’ messy breakup.

Before Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright were married, Jax had a brief encounter with Faith Stowers, a former waitress at SUR, back in 2017.

Jax confessed on Vanderpump Rules that he’d cheated before, and previous attempts to cover it up by denying everything for months hadn’t been successful.

I was so heartbroken for Jason when Brittany initially ended things, but I was thrilled to see they found their way back to each other! It was amazing news when they finally got married in 2020 – they’re such a lovely couple.

In February 2024, Brittany announced her separation from Jax, with whom she shares a two-year-old son named Cruz, after four years of marriage.

It’s been a really difficult year, and like most marriages, ours has been challenging,” the podcaster from Kentucky explained on their show, When Reality Hits. “Jax and I have decided to spend some time apart, and I’ve moved into a new place to give myself some space and focus on my well-being.”

Brittany said she’s focusing on the present and taking things one day at a time. While she’s unsure what the future holds, her priority right now is being a great mom to Cruz.

A month later, problems in the couple’s relationship were clearly visible after Bravo released the trailer for their new show, The Valley.

Brittany confessed they haven’t been intimate, saying she doesn’t think her husband is attracted to her. Jax then sighed, admitting marriage can be difficult.

Plus, costar Janet Caperna teased in the clip, “There’s a rumor about Jax cheating online.”

However, Jax slammed allegations of infidelity days after the trailer release.

He told TopMob News on March 14th at the premiere of The Valley that they were simply going through a rough patch with communication. He clarified that there was no cheating or infidelity involved, explaining that sometimes people just have trouble getting along, and that’s just part of life.

He explained that they still see each other daily, and the only change is they no longer share a home. That’s all that’s different, he said.

Brittany clarified that rumors about Jax’s infidelity weren’t the reason for their split, and explained exactly when they decided to separate.

After a serious argument, I decided to leave,” the 35-year-old told TopMob News on March 18th. “I’ve been living in an Airbnb since January 24th.”

She explained she was taking time off to focus on her well-being, and felt confident in her decision to step away for a bit.

Even though they’re going through a tough time personally, the couple both agree that they’re focused on what’s best for their two-year-old son.

Jax told TopMob, “He’s the best, and we both know it. What matters most is that he has two parents who adore him and will ensure he has a wonderful life, regardless of our relationship.”

Brittany acknowledged they’d been arguing more and expressed her worry about their son. She said, “I don’t want him to think this kind of fighting is a normal way to live.”

Brittany admitted in March that “there’s always hope,” but she just needs Jax to put in the work.

Brittany shared with TopMob that she feels her love for Jax is unmatched. Despite everything they’ve been through together, and her continued loyalty, she needs to see some changes from him before considering reconciliation. Right now, though, she’s focused on her own well-being and is proud of herself for prioritizing her mental health and making difficult decisions for her own sake.

Lisa Vanderpump, who used to be Jax and Brittany’s boss at SUR, wasn’t surprised when they split up.

People thought their marriage wouldn’t work from the start,” the former Real Housewives star told TopMob. “Everyone said it wouldn’t last, but I’ve always preferred to keep an open mind and not jump to conclusions.

She wasn’t sure why it happened, but she suspected it had something to do with Jax acting up. She figured, as is often the case, that his past actions were a good predictor of what would happen next.

As a close follower, I really agree with what Scheana Shay told TopMob News on March 23rd. She said she thinks the split is for the best, and honestly, I do too. She deserves someone who truly respects her and treats her well, and I’m hopeful she’ll find that.

And the couple’s The Valley costar Kristen Doute agreed with Scheana.

I admire Brittany for standing up for herself and making the right decision for her, Kristen said. However, she’s still hoping they can resolve their issues, but believes it depends on Jax and his actions, not on Brittany.

I was totally glued to the season finale of The Valley! It was intense when Brittany finally called Jax out about some really hurtful things she claimed he’d said about her when they weren’t filming. It was a tough conversation to watch, honestly.

According to Kristen Doute, he admitted to terrible behavior, saying things like, “I know I treat you badly. I know I’m mean. I’ve called you fat, told you you’re lazy, and warned you that you’d be alone if we split up.”

Brittany explained to TopMob News in June that they had discussed the possibility of exploring other relationships if they chose to. She acknowledged this might seem unusual or even a bit wild to some, but it was something they both wanted to consider.

In July, Jax announced he was starting intensive treatment for his mental health. This came after his wife, Brittany, had encouraged him to seek therapy for a long time.

The VPR alum mainly credited son Cruz as the reason he saught professional help.

On July 31st, Jax shared a sweet photo on Instagram of him kissing his child, writing, “Working on getting better for you, buddy. I love you.”

Brittany officially filed for divorce in August 2024, seven months after she and her husband announced their separation. According to court documents obtained by TopMob, she stated they had “irreconcilable differences.” She is asking for primary custody of their son, Cruz, and for her husband, Jax, to have visitation rights.

Court filings from October 2024, reviewed by TopMob News, show Jax asked the court to give Brittany full custody – both legal and physical – of their son, Cruz.

In legal documents, Jax stated he and Brittany got married in June 2019. However, he also indicated they were never officially or legally married, nor were they ever in a registered domestic partnership.

Okay, so I just heard back from Jax’s team, and honestly, it’s a relief! Apparently, there were some little mistakes on a few forms – the kind of stuff his lawyers usually handle, not something he does himself! They said everything will be fixed ASAP, so it’s not a big deal at all. I knew he wouldn’t intentionally mess anything up, and his team is on it! I’m just so glad it’s all being sorted out quickly.

Brittany clarified her marital status with Jax after his confusing reply to her divorce papers made people wonder if they were actually married.

She responded to a TopMob News Instagram post about Jax’s mistake by confirming they are legally married, and jokingly suggested some people struggle with paperwork.

Brittany revealed in November 2024 that she had a brief romantic encounter with a friend of Jax’s after they broke up, and she doesn’t regret it.

She explained to Bravo’s Hot Mic on November 11th that there wasn’t a rule against dating within their friend group. They never discussed it because it didn’t seem necessary. She added that she never intended to get involved with one of his friends—it just happened unexpectedly and wasn’t something she sought out.

As for while she chose to move on with someone in the friend group?

I felt like I already knew him, and that’s rare in my line of work,” she explained. “It’s just so unsettling – it makes you question who you can trust. Plus, I was navigating being single in L.A. for the very first time.

Jax was upset that Brittany was dating his friend Julian, calling it a hurtful surprise. He shared how shocked he was to learn about their relationship.

He explained on Bravo’s Hot Mic on November 14th that he wouldn’t have minded if the person involved was a stranger. He simply wants her to find someone, but not someone from his own circle.

He also said he discovered Brittany was sending Julian nude photos, and that he’d caught her being dishonest about it.

In March 2025, Jax publicly revealed he had recently become sober after struggling with cocaine addiction for many years. He stated he’d been drug and alcohol-free for almost three months.

Brittany’s repsonse?

She expressed hope that he would overcome his addiction, but admitted she had doubts. She worried that his current treatment wasn’t enough and that his actions remained concerning. She’s doing her best to protect herself and her son, but finds each day incredibly difficult. He’s caused a lot of hurt, and she’s lost a lot of trust in him. She’s holding onto the hope that he will change and be a good father to his own son.

In August 2025, Brittany’s costar Kristen Doute confirmed rumors she was in a new relationship.

Kristen Doute from The Valley shared with People that her friend is dating someone she really likes. While her friend has dated others since her divorce, Kristen hasn’t been impressed with them. But this new person is different – Kristen thinks they’re fantastic, cool, and feel like family.

Okay, so Kristen let us know that Brittany’s new boyfriend also has kids! I mean, seriously, how perfect is that? It just means they have even more in common, which makes me so happy for them both! It feels like everything is falling into place, and I’m living for it!

“He’s a dad, so it makes it really easy,” she explained, “a lot easier and understandable.”

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2026-03-10 19:53