Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev Likely to Battle Over Custody of Their Son

'Dancing with the Stars' pro, Artem Chigvintsev, is asking for joint custody of his son with Nikki Garcia. She's asked a judge for sole custody of the four-year-old boy.

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev’s divorce could get nasty. Garcia initiated the divorce on Sept. 11, just days after Chigvintsev was arrested on domestic violence charges. While Chigvintsev doesn’t appear to be against ending his marriage to the former wrestling star, he doesn’t seem to agree with Garcia regarding custody of the child they share.

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev’s divorce could lead to a battle over custody

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev could battle it out over custody of their only child. Chigvintsev has finally responded to Garcia’s divorce request, and he doesn’t seem to be in agreement about custody of their son, Matteo.

According to People, Chigvintsev is requesting joint legal and physical custody of the four-year-old, which is in direct contrast to what Garcia has asked a judge for. When Garcia filed divorce documents on Sept. 11, she requested sole physical and legal custody of Matteo. She asked a judge to allow Chigvintsev to have visitations with the toddler.

Artem Chigvintsev’s bid for custody of the child he shares with Nikki Garcia isn’t the only thing he’s asking a judge to grant. When Garcia filed her divorce documents, she requested that neither party be awarded spousal support. Chigvintsev is seeking spousal support from his wife of two years.

Why are Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev getting divorced?

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev appeared relatively happy until late August 2024. On Aug. 29, Chigvintsev was arrested for domestic violence after he placed a 911 call asking for medical help before asking for the medical assistance to be called off. He was taken in by police for corporal injury to a spouse.

Chigvintsev didn’t spend much time behind bars. According to several sources, he posted his $25,000 bail within an hour and was released to the public. Garcia has not spoken out about the incident, but she did list their separation date as Aug. 29. It is unclear who posted Chigvintsev’s bail.

How did the pair meet?

While Garcia and Chigvintsev’s marriage is coming to a swift and dramatic end, the couple was once very much in love. In fact, their love story was the talk of reality TV for several years. Garcia and Chigvintsev met in 2017 when she was cast on Dancing with the Stars. Chigvintsev, a professional dancer, served as her partner.

The couple began dating a short time later and welcomed their only child in 2020. They wed in Paris in 2022, although Garcia’s divorce request states they were officially married in January 2023. Garcia did not win her season of Dancing with the Stars. While Chigvintsev appeared on several more seasons of the beloved dancing competition, he was not slated to appear in season 33. The show’s 33rd season is set to premiere on Sept. 17.