Amanda Edwards/FilmMagicPaul Nassif can breathe a sigh of relief—at least during this round of the custody dispute.
On Wednesday, a Los Angeles judge granted the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star professionally monitored meetings with his kids amid his ongoing and bitter custody battle with estranged ex Adrienne Maloof, E! News has confirmed.
The decision comes a week after Maloof was awarded temporary custody of their three sons—9-year-old Gavin and 6-year-old twins Christian and Collin—after she filed accusations that he physically abused them.
Immediately after Wednesday's court hearing, an emotional Nassif told E! News: "It's been very difficult. The point is, I want to see my children. The children are the ones that are being affected by this."
Nassif's attorney Lisa Helfend-Meyer told the court, "There is also no evidence that their should be any monitored visits…the Children and Family Services said the allegations were not only inconclusive but unfounded." Nassif also denied allegations of abuse, saying that "every one of them is false" and insisting that when it came to custody of the kids, "all I've ever wanted is a 50/50 share."
Helfend-Meyer tells E! News she was pleased the judge saw there was "immediate emotional harm for [the] children" in not seeing their father and confirmed that Nassif will be allowed to see his kids for two Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Sept. 19, Maloof filed a request for a temporary restraining order against Nassif, claiming that, among other accusations, Nassif had choked Collin during one incident and, during another, pulled him out of the bathtub and "slapped him on his wet bare bottom."
Nassif filed for legal separation from Maloof in July after 10 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Less than a month later, he served Maloof with divorce papers and sought joint custody of their sons.
Their next court showdown is set for Oct. 9.