Amber Portwood reaches a new custody agreement

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Amber Portwood

Teen Mom: The Next Chapter star Amber Portwood has reason to celebrate this week. After losing custody of her son James to her ex Andrew Glennon in July 2022, Glennon moved with James from Indiana (where Portwood lives, as does their eldest daughter Leah, who lives with her father Gary Shirley) to California.

Portwood has been working hard since that ruling to visit James and include as much as possible in his life. She won the right to Facetime with her son multiple times a week after her no-contact order with Glennon was dropped, and Portwood was even able to visit her son in California.

Today, 26.01. The US sun reported on yet another legal win for Portwood, writing that the MTV star passed a court-ordered drug test and won an increased number of visiting days with her 4-year-old son.

Amber Portwood gains frequent visits from son James

The US sun reports that Amber Portwood’s visiting days per month have increased from three to five after Portwood passed her drug test. the sun has previously reported about the custody agreement between Portwood and Andrew Glennon and how this increase in visits from Portwood was always part of the court’s original plan.

With this increased visitation, Portwood has entered “phase two” of her custody agreement, with “phase three” resulting in a further increase to an as yet undetermined number of visiting days. Court documents note that once in this third and final phase of the agreement, Portwood will “have parental leave in accordance with Indiana parenting guidelines, with distance being an important factor based on the child’s age.” The reason Portwood’s visits are being increased in phases is to help James adjust to the sleepover schedule while he settles into his new home in California. The ultimate goal of the agreement is that Portwood and Glennon can become parents together without court oversight.

Glennon and Portwood were both ordered to undergo regular drug testing for the past six months to reach this stage of their custody agreement, which began when the couple split in 2019 and was finally settled in July 2022. This latest round marks the last drug tests the former couple had to undergo. Portwood was also ordered to see a consultant through this arrangement.

Amber Portwood received support from ex Gary Shirley amid custody battle

As Amber Portwood works to forge a more amicable parenting relationship with her ex, Andrew Glennon, she has received advice and support from her ex, Gary Shirley (who has custody of his and Portwood’s daughter, Leah). After James’ visit to California, Portwood went to dinner with Leah, Shirley and his wife Kristina.

During the dinner filmed for Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, Shirley asked Portwood how things were going between her and Glennon while Portwood visited James. Portwood shared that it was difficult as he wasn’t very open and communicative with her. Shirley reiterated her feelings, saying co-parenting has its challenges.

Shirley also appeared alongside Portwood at the Teen Mom: The Next Chapter reunion, where he revealed he went to their Indiana home with Portwood when Glennon and James moved to California after selling the house during the custody battle had occupied, and said the then – empty apartment smelled of “stale urine”.

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