DeAnna Pappas detailed her coparenting dynamic with ex-husband Stephen Stagliano — and her hopes for their kids’ future — in her recent restraining order filing.
Pappas, 43, claimed in her Friday, March 7, filing that Stagliano’s alleged “past mental health issues do not mean that I do not think he is a good father.”
The former Bachelorette noted in the court documents obtained by Us Weekly that their children “love him deeply” despite his alleged faults. (Pappas and Stagliano share daughter Addison, 11, and son Austin, 9.)
Pappas noted that she believes the ex-spouses “need to take a realistic look at what is going on and do whatever we have to do to help” their children process their divorce and recent issues.
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“Instead of looking for things and other people to blame, I want [him] to work with me to come up with solutions,” the docs state.
News broke on Monday, March 10, that Pappas was previously arrested after an alleged altercation with Stagliano, 41, in which he claimed she was drunk. (In Touch reported in June 2024 that when the exes finalized their divorce, Pappas and Stagliano agreed not to consume alcohol around their children.)
At the time, Stagliano accused his ex-wife of being allegedly intoxicated when Stagliano’s mother picked up their son earlier that morning for school.
When Stagliano came to Pappas home that evening to get their daughter, he allegedly forced himself inside her garage and “refused to leave.” Pappas claimed that Stagliano “forcefully shoved” her and then he called the police.
According to court docs obtained by Us, Pappas was arrested on a misdemeanor charge on February 27 after Stagliano pressed charges for domestic violence. Pappas was released the same day on bond and proceeded to file a restraining order on her ex-husband the following week.
Former Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas Arrested After Altercation With Ex-Husband
Pappas denied being an alcoholic and claimed that their daughter’s video from that night would prove exactly what transpired and who was the aggressor. She also alleged she tested negative for drugs and alcohol in a voluntary test.
The former reality star outlined her side of the incident in her restraining order and detailed her and Stagliano’s “difficult” coparenting relationship. Pappas asked a judge order Stagliano to stay 100 yards away from her — and a hearing was set for later this month.
“I would describe our coparenting as ‘parallel parenting,’ in that I handle the children when I have them, and Respondent does the same,” Pappas explained in the filing. “That of course is with the exception of extreme situations, wherein both the Respondent and I will reach out to each other to let each other know what is going on with the children.”
She noted that the former couple also interact when their children allegedly “share with me that they are concerned or uncomfortable with the Respondent’s live-in girlfriend.” Pappas said in that scenario, she contacts Stagliano “to relay that information so that he can address that with the children how he sees fit.”
Pappas also claimed that she is “very willing” to help Stagliano and “be flexible” on the “few occasions” they need to switch custodial times. “The Respondent is also accommodating when I need to switch custodial time due to my unique work schedule,” she added.
Pappas acknowledged that her coparenting relationship with Stagliano “certainly needs help” but argued, “I do believe I have made significant effort for the sake of our children.”
The TV personality met Stephen through his brother, Michael Stagliano, who was on season 5 of The Bachelorette. (Pappas, for her part, was the lead on season 4 of the dating franchise.)
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The pair tied the knot in October 2011. After more than 10 years of marriage, Pappas and Stephen announced in January 2023 that they had called it quits. The exes finalized their divorce in June 2024, agreeing to joint custody of their kids.
In addition to agreeing not to be “intoxicated” while the children were in their respective custody, Pappas and Stephen agreed not to consume narcotics within 12 hours before or during their stays with the kids, according to docs obtained by In Touch in summer 2024.
Pappas and Stephen’s deal awarded Stephen $1,000 a month in child support and an additional $1,500 in spousal support.
Us Weekly reached out to Pappas and Stagliano’s lawyer for comment.
