Mama June has scored a small victory in her custody battle with Michael Cardwell, the ex-husband of her late daughter Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell.
A judge has granted Mama June’s request for records from the Department of Family and Children Services, which will aid her in her pursuit of custody of Anna’s 11-year-old daughter Kaitlyn, according to court documents.
The court’s decision is a significant step forward in the custody battle, as the records will provide crucial evidence in determining the best interest of Kaitlyn.
Mama June celebrated a small victory in her court battle with Michael Cardwell , the ex-husband of her late daughter Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell
Anna tragically passed away in December 2023 at the age of 29, leaving behind her two daughters, Kaitlyn and Kylee, eight.
Following Anna’s death, Mama June was granted temporary custody of Kaitlyn, prompting Michael to file a separate case seeking custody of the 11-year-old.
A judge granted Mama June’s request for records from the Department of Family and Children Services as she seeks custody of Anna’s 11-year-old daughter Kaitlyn, according to court documents obtained by InTouch on Tuesday, (Anna pictured with her daughters Kylee, 11, Kaitlyn, eight and husband Eldridge Toney)
Anna had welcomed Kaitlyn with a different former partner from a previous relationship.
In a recent development, Kaitlyn submitted a declaration in the custody battle, stating her desire to reside primarily with her maternal grandmother, Mama June.
The matriarch previously addressed the custody of Kaitlyn in an episode of Mama June: Family Crisis that aired in June, filmed prior to Anna’s death.
At the time, Anna expressed her wish for her husband, Eldridge Toney, whom she married in 2023, to take care of Kaitlyn.
However, Mama June believes that she is better equipped to provide stability and care for Kaitlyn.
‘Such evidence and testimony is material to the matters before the court to allow the court to make an informed decision regarding the best interest of the minor child in this custody action,’ the motion read, per the outlet
The family had kept Anna’s diagnosis hidden for months, as she didn’t feel ready to go public with the news.
Mama June confirmed that they deliberately delayed sharing the news with the public, until Anna was ready to do so.
The decision was met with criticism, with some accusing the family of using Chickadee’s death as a plot for their reality show.
Addressing the comments, Mama June said: ‘What was so crazy for us is when Anna passed away in December. I remember this vividly, for a long time people really thought that we was actually putting out false news.’
After Mama June was granted temporary custody of Kaitlyn following Anna’s death, Michael— who had Kylee with Anna before their 2017 split — filed a separate case seeking custody of Kaitlyn
Mama June emphasized that cancer and death are not something to be taken lightly, and the family’s reality show is not a platform for fabrication.
Reflecting on how they have been coping as a family in the wake of Chickadee’s death, she continued: ‘For me, it’s been a personal day-to-day thing. It’s only been six months.’
‘I feel like I need to wake up from this nightmare. It’s still a dream, if that makes sense.’