The custody battle between former Vanderpump Rules stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright has officially ended with a deal that puts their four-year-old son Cruz at the center of strict new rules. Court documents obtained reveal that both parents agreed to significant alcohol and drug restrictions while caring for their child, along with a custody schedule that gives Brittany slightly more parenting time.
The agreement, finalized in recent days, marks the formal end of a divorce process that began in 2024 when Cartwright filed while Taylor was receiving inpatient treatment for bipolar disorder and PTSD.
Under the new arrangement, Cruz will spend most of his time with his mother. Brittany receives primary physical custody, with Jax scheduled for every other weekend and Wednesday night visits. Both share joint legal custody, meaning they must make decisions about Cruz’s health, education, and welfare together.
But there’s a tiebreaker. If the former couple cannot agree on health-related decisions, Brittany gets the final say, a provision that reflects Taylor’s documented mental health struggles and the circumstances surrounding their separation.
Neither parent will pay child support. Instead, each covers costs and expenses when Cruz is in their care.
The alcohol and drug restrictions represent one of the agreement’s most notable provisions. Both Taylor and Cartwright agreed not to be under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or any illegal drugs while Cruz is in their custody.
The clause carries weight given both parents’ histories. Taylor completed a 30-day inpatient treatment program in 2024, later revealing his diagnoses of bipolar disorder and PTSD. Cartwright has spoken publicly about her own struggles with alcohol, including a March 2025 incident where she called 911 on Taylor during an argument, telling the operator he was drunk and she wanted him out of the house.
The custody deal also regulates how and when Cruz meets new romantic partners. Either parent must wait six months before introducing their child to a new significant other, a standard provision in celebrity custody agreements designed to protect children from revolving-door relationships.
The timeline could soon become relevant for Cartwright. She briefly dated Brandon Hanson following her separation from Taylor but has since focused on herself, undergoing a full “mommy makeover” cosmetic surgery package in fall 2025.
Taylor’s romantic life remains quieter, though he was spotted with an unnamed woman in Los Angeles in January 2026.
Both parents committed to celebrating Cruz’s birthdays together “in good faith” whenever possible. They also agreed not to speak negatively about each other in front of their son, a common provision that carries extra weight for reality stars whose feuds have played out publicly for years.
The agreement comes more than two years after Cartwright filed for divorce in August 2024. At the time, Taylor was in treatment, and Cartwright cited “irreconcilable differences” after a relationship that included a 2019 wedding, four years of dating before that, and countless Vanderpump Rules episodes documenting their highs and lows.
Taylor and Cartwright’s relationship played out on Bravo cameras for nearly a decade. They met in 2015, got engaged in 2018, and married at Kentucky Castle in 2019 in a lavish ceremony that became a Vanderpump Rules season finale.
But cracks appeared early. Taylor’s struggles with infidelity, anger, and substance use became recurring storylines. Cartwright frequently defended him on camera while privately growing exhausted.
Their separation in early 2024 led to Taylor’s inpatient treatment, where he received his bipolar disorder and PTSD diagnoses. He’s been open about the experience since, telling podcast listeners the divorce “needed to happen” due to their toxic dynami.
Cartwright has been equally candid. “Our relationship was toxic for a very long time,” she told Us Weekly in 2025. “I stayed way longer than I should have. But now I’m focused on Cruz and on being the best version of myself for him”.
For now, both parents appear committed to making the arrangement work. Cruz starts preschool this fall, and both have spoken about prioritizing stability over drama.
Taylor continues working on his mental health while exploring new television projects. Cartwright has launched a lifestyle brand and remains active on social media, documenting her post-divorce transformation.
The custody agreement gives them a framework, strict rules, clear schedules, and a child who gets both parents without the chaos that defined their marriage. Whether they can stick to it is the next chapter.
