Quick answer: A Los Angeles judge has allowed Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez’s 13-year-old son, Maceo, to testify in a limited part of the parents’ ongoing dispute. Reports say his testimony is tied to Martinez’s request for a restraining order—not a blanket decision settling custody. Berry denies the abuse allegations reported in court filings, and the claims remain disputed.
Updated October 15, 2026 | By Shivam Das
The latest ruling in Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez’s family-court dispute is significant, but its scope matters. Reports published on October 15 say a judge will permit their son to speak in proceedings connected to a restraining-order request. That does not mean the court has made a final finding about the disputed allegations, nor does it by itself determine the long-term custody arrangement.
What the judge reportedly allowed
Entertainment Weekly and People reported on October 15 that the judge permitted Maceo to testify, with the testimony limited to the request for a restraining order. The distinction is important: a court allowing a child to give evidence is a procedural decision about what the judge may consider. It is not the same as deciding that either parent’s allegations are true.
Coverage says Martinez sought court protection after alleging that Berry physically harmed their son during a September 26 incident. Berry has denied the allegations and has challenged the account presented by her former husband. Because these are contested claims, they should be described as allegations unless and until a court makes findings. This article does not independently verify the underlying allegations or court filings.
Read the contemporaneous reports from People and Entertainment Weekly.
Why this is not a final custody decision
Custody proceedings can involve several different questions: where a child lives while a case is pending, whether a protective order is warranted, what evidence a judge may hear, and what long-term parenting arrangement serves the child’s best interests. A ruling about testimony addresses only one part of that process.
Reports have described temporary changes to the family’s arrangements while the dispute proceeds. Those interim steps should not be confused with a final judgment. The next court appearance reported by news outlets is expected on October 16, 2026; readers should check updated reporting for any new order or change in schedule.
What each side has said
According to published coverage, Martinez’s position is that their son should have an opportunity to describe his experience to the court. Berry has disputed his allegations and argued that her son could be influenced in the context of the conflict. Those descriptions reflect the parties’ reported positions, not independent findings by this publication.
When parents are in a high-conflict legal dispute, public reporting can easily turn claims into apparent facts. A careful reading separates what a judge has decided, what one party alleges, what the other party denies, and what remains unresolved. The child’s privacy and well-being also deserve consideration; speculation about a minor’s private statements or motives does not help readers understand the legal question.
What happens next?
The immediate question is what evidence the judge hears in the restraining-order proceedings and whether the court issues further directions afterward. The longer-term custody dispute may require separate consideration of the evidence and the child’s best interests. Until the court releases further decisions, claims about the final outcome would be premature.
For readers following the story, the most useful updates will identify the specific order entered, explain whether it is temporary or final, and distinguish allegations from findings. Headlines that suggest the testimony ruling settles the entire custody fight go further than the reported decision supports.
Frequently asked questions
Was Halle Berry’s son allowed to testify?
Reports published October 15, 2026, say a judge allowed Maceo to testify in a limited part of the proceedings related to Martinez’s restraining-order request.
Does the ruling mean Halle Berry lost custody?
No. Permission for testimony is not itself a final custody ruling. Any temporary custody arrangements and later orders need to be assessed separately.
Have the abuse allegations been proven?
The allegations reported in the case are disputed. Berry has denied them. This article does not treat allegations as established facts or claim that a final finding has been made.
When is the next hearing?
News reports published October 15 said a further court appearance was expected on October 16, 2026. Check current, reliable reporting for any schedule changes or new orders.
Where can I read more?
See the reports from People, Entertainment Weekly, and Page Six. These reports may be updated as the proceedings continue.
Editorial note: This story is based on published reporting available as of October 15, 2026. The photographs are licensed illustrative portraits from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, not photographs of the family-court proceedings. Image credits and license links are provided with each photograph.
