Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell’s ex-husband, Michael Cardwell, is suing June “Mama June” Shannon for custody of his late ex-wife’s eldest daughter from a previous relationship.
Michael filed the lawsuit against Shannon for custody of Kaitlyn, 11, after Anna died from cancer at the age of 29 last week, according to documents obtained by The Sun.
He is the biological father of Anna’s youngest daughter, Kylee, 8, and took on full custody after Anna’s passing.
Michael argued in the filing that he has “fully and completely undertaken a permanent, unequivocal, committed, and responsible parental role” of Kaitlyn.
He also alleged that he has “engaged in consistent caretaking of the child and established a bonded and dependent relationship with the child,” which was reportedly encouraged by Anna despite him not being Kaitlyn’s biological father.
Michael asserted that he formed an “independent relationship” with Kaitlyn during his visitations with Kylee after he and Anna separated in 2017. He added that Anna had “fostered and supported” his bonding with Kaitlyn.
“Both petitioner and parent understood, acknowledged, accepted and behaved as though the petitioner is a parent of the child and accepted full and permanent responsibilities as a parent of the child without expectation of financial compensation,” the documents stated.
Michael stated that Kaitlyn’s biological father, a man named Caleb Clark, was out of the picture and therefore had no legal rights to becoming Kaitlyn’s guardian. Clark has never taken a DNA test proving he is Kaitlyn’s biological father.
Michael also argued that Anna had a tense relationship with her mother over the years.
“Anna has been raised by her maternal grandmother in Griffin, Georgia since she was approximately eight years old and only returned to the home of June Shannon when she was 17,” he argued. “Anna has had a very sordid relationship with her mother throughout her life and went various periods of time without speaking to her.
“Likewise, June’s presence in the minor child’s life has been inconsistent,” he added.
Michael, who was married to Anna from 2014 to 2017, also shared that he has been paying for Kaitlyn’s education.
“Petitioner has been a stable and consistent part of the minor child’s life since she was eight months old and has continued to do so even after years from his divorce from Anna,” the filing states.
“Petitioner is the only living person that has shown a constant and continuous interest in the child’s minor child’s well-being, and being in the custody of the petitioner will be in the child’s best interest,” he concluded in his petition.
The reality TV matriarch was reportedly served the papers on Sunday, Dec. 17.
Shannon, 44, announced that Anna had passed away on Dec. 9 after battling stage 4 cancer.
“With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us. She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 PM,” Shannon announced via Instagram Sunday.
“She gave one hell of a fight for 10 months she passed away with her family around her,” the “Toddlers & Tiaras” alum continued.
“We will be updating y’all with more information as we get it today. We love y’all and continued prayers and thoughts for our family [during] this difficult time.”
One of Shannon’s other daughters, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, also mourned the loss of her sister in an emotional Instagram post.
“This is one post I wish I didn’t have to make 💔 Last night we all surrounded Anna with love & let her know it was okay to go. Unfortunately around 11pm Anna took her last breathe,” Thompson, 18, shared on social media.
“Anna was in so much pain last night but now as a family we all know she is at peace now,” she continued. “I really don’t know what to say as my heart is completely broken. Watching my 29 year old sister this last year battle this horrible disease hasn’t been easy.”
Prior to her passing, Anna had secretly married boyfriend Eldridge Toney on March 4 in Wilkinson County, Ga., according to a marriage license obtained by TMZ.
Sources told the website Anna wanted to walk down the aisle while she was still feeling well enough to marry after being diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma in January.
Anna and Toney had been together since June 2017.
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