The battle for custody of DWTS Cheryl Burke and actor Matthew Lawrence’s pet dog, Ysabella, has dragged on for months since the couple made the decision to go their separate ways. However, it seems the exes finally reached an agreement off the court, averting the long tiring legal battles.
Court documents confirm that the Dancing With the Stars pro snagged a major win in the custody battle following a deal with her ex-husband. The deal required Matthew to forfeit his claims to their French Bulldog, ultimately making Cheryl its primary caregiver.
Additionally, Cheryl Burke was awarded all ownership rights to the dog as Michael Lawrence agreed to forfeit all documents related to Ysabella. These documents would also include the title of “pet parent,” for their Home Again service. By waiving the white flag outside the courtroom, the former couple has scaled past a major point of contention requiring a scheduled court hearing.
Cheryl Burke And Matthew Lawrence’s Agreement Marks The End Of A Long Drama
The two initially opted to battle it out in court following their refusals to relinquish ownership rights to the other. While Matthew insisted on fighting over the dog, Cheryl Burke believed her ex was simply portraying cruelty via those actions. According to the 38-year-old, she received the French Bulldog from an ex-partner and has considered it hers ever since. Hence, she felt entitled to it.
Thankfully, Matthew Lawrence has given Cheryl Burke the chance to become the sole custodian she’d dreamed of, surmounting a huge obstacle in their divorce process.
The two tied the knot in 2019, having met and briefly dated over ten years prior following Lawrence’s brother Joey’s appearance on DWTS. Their relationship lasted for barely two years before Burke filed for divorce in February 2022.
Matthew Lawrence and Cheryl Burke finalized the proceedings in September of the same year but remained at odds over the custody of their beloved dog. With that out of the way, the two can finally move on from each other for good, giving them the right frame of mind as they thread the dating pool again.