Updated October 15, 2026 | By Shivam Das
A judge has ruled that Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez’s 13-year-old son, Maceo, may testify in a limited part of their ongoing custody dispute. The key restriction matters: according to reporting by PEOPLE, the teenager’s testimony is limited to Martinez’s request for a restraining order, rather than an unrestricted opportunity to address every issue in the custody case.
The ruling is a procedural development, not a final decision on the disputed allegations or on long-term custody. Martinez has accused Berry of physically harming their son during an alleged September 26 incident and is seeking sole custody. Berry has denied abusing Maceo and has challenged the reliability of the allegations. The claims remain contested, and they should not be treated as findings of fact.
What the judge’s ruling actually means
The immediate question is whether Maceo can speak in the proceedings tied to the requested restraining order. PEOPLE reported on October 15 that the judge allowed testimony but limited its scope to that request. The distinction is important: permission to testify does not establish that either parent’s account is true, nor does it automatically settle legal or physical custody.
In family-court disputes, judges may need to weigh a child’s account while also considering age, context, privacy and the risk that a child may feel caught between parents. The court’s limits on the scope and setting of testimony can be significant precisely because the matter involves a minor. The public should avoid assuming that a child’s participation means the court has already reached a conclusion.
What Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez have said
Martinez’s filings, as described in published reports, allege that Berry physically harmed Maceo during an incident at her home on September 26. Martinez has sought a restraining order and sole custody. Those are allegations made by one party in litigation, not a final judicial determination.
Berry has denied physically or emotionally abusing her son. She has also argued that the court should be cautious about relying on Maceo’s testimony, alleging that Martinez has discussed the dispute with him and may have influenced his account. Martinez’s side has argued that their son should have an opportunity to tell the court what he says he experienced. These competing positions underscore why the court process—not social-media speculation—must determine what evidence is reliable.
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Why the limits on testimony matter
For readers following the case, the most useful detail is not the dramatic headline but the narrow legal question the judge addressed. Testimony limited to a restraining-order request is different from testimony on every aspect of a custody arrangement. The court can consider evidence for one purpose without resolving all related disputes at the same time.
Family-court proceedings also involve privacy concerns that do not disappear because one or both parents are famous. Maceo is a minor, and details about his private life should not be amplified beyond what is necessary to explain the public legal development. Avoiding speculation about his mental health, motives or credibility is especially important while proceedings remain active.
What happens next?
Reports published on October 15 said the parties were preparing for a further hearing on October 16. That hearing may provide additional information about the restraining-order request, but its outcome should be confirmed through reliable reporting or court records before any update is published. This article reflects reporting available on October 15, 2026; readers should check for later court developments.
At this stage, the confirmed takeaway is limited: the judge permitted Maceo to testify on a defined issue. The ruling does not, by itself, prove the allegations against Berry, disprove Martinez’s account, or settle the parents’ broader custody dispute.
Quick answers
Can Halle Berry’s son testify in the custody case?
According to PEOPLE’s October 15 report, the judge allowed Maceo to testify, but limited the testimony to Martinez’s request for a restraining order.
Has Halle Berry been found to have abused her son?
The reports reviewed for this article describe contested allegations. Berry has denied abusing Maceo; the ruling allowing testimony is not itself a finding that the allegations are true.
What is Olivier Martinez seeking?
Published reports say Martinez has sought a restraining order and sole custody. The precise relief granted or denied must be confirmed against current court records.
Does the ruling settle custody?
No. Permission to testify on a limited issue is a procedural ruling, not a final resolution of the wider custody dispute.
Sources and further reading
- PEOPLE: Report on the judge allowing limited testimony
- Los Angeles Times: Background on the restraining-order allegations and Berry’s response
- Los Angeles Times: Reporting on a declaration filed by Berry’s daughter
Editorial note: This report summarizes public reporting about an ongoing family-court matter. Allegations are attributed to the parties, and the child’s privacy deserves care.
