Meghan King, a former cast member of ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County,’ has temporarily lost custody of her three children to ex-husband Jim Edmonds after she allegedly gave their son unprescribed ADHD medication. The court’s interim decision grants Edmonds sole physical custody, with a hearing set for December 9 to review the case.
The custody change was triggered by allegations that King administered Ritalin to her 7-year-old son Hayes multiple times, despite him not having a diagnosis for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Sources indicate that King also asked a school nurse to give the medication to Hayes, which led the nurse or another school employee to report the incident to Child Protective Services. This prompted an investigation that concluded with the children being removed from King’s care in late October.
Following the CPS report, a guardian ad litem was appointed by the court and filed for a temporary restraining order against King. On November 19, multiple news outlets reported that Edmonds was awarded sole physical custody of their children: daughter Aspen, 8, and twin sons Hart and Hayes, 7. King is now permitted supervised visitation with the children twice a week, under the current arrangement.
The decision is temporary, and a court hearing scheduled for December 9 will determine whether the custody changes become permanent. Edmonds and his wife, Kortnie, were reportedly at their secondary home in Tennessee when they received the call from CPS and immediately returned to Missouri to assume care of the children.
King and Edmonds’ relationship has been strained since their divorce was finalized in 2021, following a five-year marriage that ended amid a cheating scandal. They initially agreed to joint custody of their three children, but co-parenting has been marked by ongoing conflicts and legal disputes.
Tensions escalated in May 2025 when Kortnie Edmonds called police on King for allegedly trespassing at their Missouri residence. Bodycam footage from the Frontenac Police Department showed King describing Edmonds as ’emotionally abusive,’ but his representatives denied the allegations, stating that King was mischaracterizing the event and that Edmonds has always acted in the children’s best interests.
King’s former RHOC co-star Kelly Dodd publicly defended her, calling King an ‘excellent mother’ and expressing hope that she regains custody. Dodd shared that King had stayed with her during personal challenges, emphasizing King’s deep love for her children and her capabilities as a parent.
The case highlights the complexities of child custody battles involving celebrities and the serious consequences of allegations related to child welfare. The outcome of the December hearing will be pivotal in shaping the children’s future and may influence public perception of parenting responsibilities in high-profile divorces.
