Sia Granted Primary Custody of Son Somersault After Lengthy Divorce Battle

LOS ANGELES — Acclaimed singer-songwriter Sia has been granted primary physical custody of her 2-year-old son, Somersault, following a prolonged and contentious legal process with estranged husband Dan Bernad. Court documents obtained by PEOPLE confirm that Judge Firdaus Dordi formalised the arrangement, which had been reached through negotiation between the parties. While Sia will serve as the child’s primary physical custodian, Bernad retains shared legal custody and a clearly defined visitation schedule, including specific provisions for holidays and special occasions. The ruling brings a measure of stability to a situation that has unfolded publicly and painfully over the past year.

A Hard-Fought Resolution

The custody settlement, first reported by TMZ on October 19, represents the conclusion of intense legal wrangling. Just months earlier, in April 2026, the couple had reached a preliminary agreement establishing financial terms, but final physical custody arrangements have now been cemented by the court. Representatives for both Sia and Bernad have not yet issued public statements regarding the latest decision, leaving the filings themselves to speak to the outcome.

The path to this resolution was far from smooth. In October 2025, Bernad filed an application for emergency sole custody, making serious allegations that Sia was “an unfit and unreliable parent struggling with substance abuse and addiction.” The singer responded immediately in her own filing, affirming she had remained sober for more than six months, was actively engaged in a structured recovery programme involving weekly testing and a dedicated sober companion, and described sobriety as “a cornerstone of my life.” At the time, the judge denied the request for emergency sole custody, stating that “sufficient exigency for the requested emergency relief has not been shown,” though the broader dispute continued.

Financial Provisions and Responsibilities

The custody order builds upon the financial settlement reached earlier this year, which drew widespread attention for its substantial figures. Under those terms:

• Sia will pay $42,500 per month in child support to Bernad, effective April 1, 2026, continuing until Somersault turns 18 or until age 19 if he remains enrolled in full-time high school.

• Additional responsibilities include covering private school tuition, approved extracurricular activities, and uninsured medical expenses, as well as maintaining health insurance.

• Sia must also maintain a $5 million life insurance policy naming her son as beneficiary, or establish an equivalent trust, to secure his financial future should she pass before reaching adulthood.

These obligations reflect California’s child support guidelines, which base amounts on the income disparity between parents. Sia is the sole high earner in the household.

"Trying to Buy Peace"

Following the April filing, Sia spoke publicly about the situation in a candid social media post that resonated with many navigating similar struggles. “I’m a sober working mom trying to buy peace,” she wrote. “I have primary custody of our son, and since I am the only parent earning income, I still have to pay California’s incredibly high child support.” She continued with reflection and resolve: “This has been a horrific year but it taught me how to navigate incredibly difficult situations, prioritise my family and not absorb other people’s negativity.” She closed with the timeless words of Alexander Pope: “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”

The statement captured the emotional weight behind the numbers: for Sia, these payments were not merely a financial calculation but an effort to create a stable, quiet environment for her son amid conflict.

A Timeline of Separation and Struggle

The timeline of events underscores how rapidly circumstances shifted:

• 2022: Sia and Bernad marry.

• 2024: Their son Somersault is born.

• March 2025: Sia files for divorce after two years of marriage, citing differences in lifestyle as a contributing factor.

• October 2025: Bernad seeks emergency sole custody; judge denies the request.

• April 2026: Financial and child support agreement filed with the court.

• October 2026: Primary physical custody formally granted to Sia; shared legal custody and visitation confirmed for Bernad.

Throughout, Sia has maintained her commitment to recovery and to being present and consistent in her son’s life priorities that appear to have been central to the court’s decision.

Protecting the Child’s Best Interests

Courts in California make custody determinations based on what serves the child’s best interests, weighing factors including stability, existing caregiving arrangements, health and well-being, and the ability of parents to cooperate. The final order reflects a balanced approach: Sia provides the primary home environment, while Bernad remains an active, involved parent with defined access rights. The specificity around holidays and special days is designed to minimise future conflict and ensure Somersault maintains meaningful connection with both sides of his family.

Finding Grace Amid Hardship

For Sia, artist, advocate, mother, this chapter closes with hard-won clarity. She has faced public allegations, intense scrutiny, and personal loss, yet has remained steadfast in protecting her recovery and her child. The ruling is not a total victory for either side; it is a compromise forged through adversity. But it is also a foundation one from which Somersault can grow, secure in the love of two parents, and one where peace, at last, may take root. As she reminded us: forgiveness is divine. Sometimes, however, simply surviving and moving forward with grace is more than enough.