Usher Awarded Primary Custody of Kids

Singer will be the principle decider in raising his two sons with ex-wife Tameka Raymond

By Josh Grossberg Aug 24, 2012 10:18 PMTags
Tameka Foster, Usher Raymond, John E. Davidson/Getty

Usher is a happy dad right about now.

That's because an Atlanta judge has awarded the "Yeah!" singer primary custody of his two sons with ex-wife Tameka Raymond, E! News has learned.

An insider close to Usher (full name Usher Raymond IV), tells E! News that "it has been a long and difficult process for everyone but it's good to see that an independent third party has made a decision."

While the 33-year-old R&B star retains primary physical custody, a Fulton County Court official adds however that both parties will continue to share legal custody over 4-year-old Usher Raymond V and 3-year-old Naviyd Raymond.

The former couple has been locked in a nasty custody dispute in the intervening years since they divorced in November 2009.

On Tuesday, Usher was found in willful contempt by the court for violating provisions of their settlement agreement that required each parent to have the right to information about their kids' respective health, education and extracuriccular activities.

The singer meanwhile charged that his ex was "incapable of being a proper parent" and in previous, emotional testimony in May, claimed that Raymond (né Foster) demonstrated emotionally instability by spitting on his girlfriend, taking a swing at him and interfering with his time with the boys.

Apparently the judge agreed enough to hand him today's victory.

A rep for Tameka wasn't available for comment.

—Reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum and Holly Passalaqua