Sia Wins Major Custody Ruling as Judge Denies Estranged Husband Sole Custody

Sia has secured a significant legal victory in her ongoing divorce. A Los Angeles judge has denied her estranged husband’s request for sole custody of their one-year-old son. The decision was made on April 11, 2025, in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The judge ruled that Dan Bernad failed to show sufficient emergency need to alter their existing custody pact. This order reinforces the interim arrangement the couple agreed to last August.

Court Cites Lack of Evidence for Emergency Change

Court documents obtained by Page Six detail the ruling. The judge stated that Bernad did not demonstrate the required “exigency” for emergency relief. Most facts in his filing were known when the initial agreement was signed.

The court has ordered both parties to continue following their stipulated custody plan. This plan was established on August 1, 2025. The judge’s decision is a clear setback for Bernad’s custody fight.

Bernad, an oncologist, had painted a dire picture of Sia’s parenting. He claimed she was an “unfit and unreliable parent” struggling with substance abuse. He declared himself the child’s “only safe and reliable parent.”

Allegations and Counterclaims Define Bitter Split

Sia’s legal team strongly contested Bernad’s claims. They argued his filing contained “blatant falsehoods” meant to manipulate the court. They portrayed Bernad as attempting a hostile takeover of parental rights.

The public allegations mark a new low in their separation. The couple married in December 2022 and welcomed their son in March 2024. Sia filed for divorce just one year later, in March 2025.

The case highlights the intense pressures of high-profile splits. The judge’s refusal to grant emergency relief suggests a preference for the established agreement. The battle over long-term custody arrangements is expected to continue.

This ruling stabilizes the immediate custody situation for Sia and her son. The judge’s denial of sole custody reinforces the existing legal framework. The ongoing Sia custody battle will now proceed under the court’s current orders.

Thought you’d like to know

Q1: What was the main reason the judge denied sole custody?

The judge found Dan Bernad did not provide enough evidence of an emergency. The court stated the facts he presented were mostly known when the earlier custody agreement was made in August 2025.

Q2: What did Dan Bernad allege about Sia?

Bernad claimed Sia was an unfit parent due to alleged substance abuse issues. He stated in court filings that she posed a “serious and immediate danger” to their child.

Q3: How did Sia respond to the allegations?

Sia’s legal team strongly denied the claims. They called Bernad’s accusations “blatant falsehoods” and argued he was trying to usurp her parental rights.

Q4: What happens to the child now?

The child will remain under the custody arrangement from August 2025. The judge ordered both parents to continue following that existing stipulated plan for now.

Q5: When did Sia and Dan Bernad get married?

Sia and Dan Bernad were married in December 2022. Their son was born in March 2024, and Sia filed for divorce in March 2025.