Perez Hilton’s mother has asked a Florida court for temporary custody of his three children as the celebrity blogger remains under medical care following a serious mental health crisis earlier this month.
Teresita Lavandeira filed the petition in Miami family court on August 7th, three days after Hilton was hospitalized. Her attorney, Natalie F. Guerra-Valdes, told PEOPLE in a new statement that the family’s primary concern is protecting the children and making sure they are safe.
Hilton, 48, is the father of Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8. The family recently moved from Las Vegas to Miami, and PEOPLE reports that the children are living with Lavandeira as the family focuses on their well-being.
The request follows Hilton’s August 4th hospitalization after authorities responded to reports that he appeared to be harming himself during a TikTok livestream from his Miami home. His family has since asked for privacy while attention remains focused on Hilton’s treatment and the children’s recovery.
His Mother Says the Goal Is Stability for the Children
“My main concern and objective, as well as the family’s, is to protect the children and make sure they are safe,” Guerra-Valdes told PEOPLE. “We want them to have some sense of normalcy as they begin their journey of healing after the tragic events that occurred last week,” she added.
Entertainment Weekly confirmed through public court records that Lavandeira filed the temporary custody petition on August 7th. Additional court documents obtained by Page Six indicate that Hilton signed paperwork voluntarily consenting to the temporary custody arrangement and acknowledging that it was in his children’s best interests.
Under the requested arrangement, Lavandeira would be able to make necessary decisions involving matters such as the children’s medical care and education. The documents also state that the arrangement is temporary and that Hilton can petition the court to have legal custody returned to him.
The Children Left the Home Before Authorities Arrived
Hilton’s family previously revealed that his three children, his sister and his niece had been inside the home shortly before the livestream began. “Just minutes before the public livestream incident, Perez’s children, niece, and sister were inside the home,” the family said in an earlier statement. When they realized Hilton was experiencing what they described as a “severe mental health crisis,” they said the family members “immediately fled” with the children to prevent them from witnessing anything further.
Authorities later said Hilton was alone inside the residence when deputies responded. The family said its highest priority was helping the children begin to heal and regain enough security to return home. They also asked members of the media, photographers, content creators and the public to stay away from the residence and not photograph Hilton’s children.
Hilton’s Family Says His Recovery Will Take Time
NBC6 South Florida reported that the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed Hilton was hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act following the August 4th incident. The law allows for an involuntary mental health evaluation when certain legal criteria involving a risk of harm are met.
In an August 8th update, Hilton’s family said his condition was “serious but stable” and that he had experienced significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that would require surgery. “His treatment and recovery will be a long process,” the family said.
They also stressed that Hilton had not been speaking publicly about his condition and asked that only authorized updates published directly through his website be treated as statements from him. “Perez’s children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family,” the family said. “Please allow them and the rest of the family the peace and privacy they desperately need during this incredibly difficult time.”