Halle Berry's ex Olivier Martinez wants star to pay for his $240,000 legal fees as he claims to lack funding

Olivier Martinez is now seeking to have his ex-wife Halle Berry pay for the massive legal fees he incurred during their ugly custody battle over son Maceo. 

For weeks, the exes were locked in a legal showdown over custody of their 13-year-old after Martinez, 60, accused Berry, 60, of physically abusing the child, allegations the actress has denied. 

Last week, a judge granted Martinez primary physical custody of their son and dissolved a temporary restraining order the actor filed against Berry on behalf of himself and Maceo.

Now the actor has asked the court to order Berry to pay for the mounting legal bills he now faces. 

Court documents obtained by The Daily Mail reveal Martinez filed a request to order Berry to pay $240,000 in legal fees, claiming he lacks the means to pay his counsel for the 'extensive work completed' during the legal battle.

'While Petitioner and I are both actors, our respective incomes and access to assets vastly differ. I have not had any acting roles for years now. Petitioner, on the other hand, has starred in Crime 101, a film released in 2026, and is working on two additional films, Fleur (of which she is also a producer) and Red Card,' he said in documents. 

Olivier Martinez is now seeking to have his ex-wife Halle Berry pay for the massive legal fees he incurred during their ugly custody battle over son Maceo

According to his income and expense declaration, Martinez on average receives $776.34 in monthly residuals and currently has $43,206.22 and real estate valued at $550,000 (he described a home he purchased for $500,000 earlier this year in his 'only significant asset).

Last month, Martinez earned $288.33 in residual payments. 

His average monthly expenses - which include the maintenance and repair on his home, groceries, utilities, and laundry and cleaning - are estimated to be $17,555.99.

As of now, he currently owes his law firm $176,522.58 but is expected to owe a total of $240,000, his lawyer declared. 

Martinez claimed he was initially hopeful to resolve their issues informally during a two-day settlement conference but instead 'a lengthy trial ensued'.

During the trial, 'multiple third-party witnesses were called upon by Petitioner [Berry]. The Court did not allow multiple other individuals to testify, including friends of Petitioner, her two attorneys, and three medical professionals, but the individuals who did testify drastically lengthened the trial,' Martinez said in his declaration. 

The documents cite Family Code § 2030, a law which grants the court the ability to order one party with financial means to pay for the legal fees and associated court costs to their opposing party. 

'Petitioner has the ability to pay for both her own attorney's fees and Respondent's attorney's fees,' a document supporting Martinez's request states. 'Considering the significant income disparity (regarding which further information will be provided in reply paperwork), Petitioner's ability to pay, and Respondent's critical need for effective legal representation, the Court should order Petitioner to advance attorney's fees to ensure parity between the parties.'

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Berry and Martinez for comment. 

The legal war erupted last month after Martinez accused Berry of physically abusing their 13-year-old son Maceo. Berry has denied all of the allegations. 

Last week, several major developments occurred in the case.

Court documents obtained by The Daily Mail reveal Martinez filed a request to order Berry to pay $240,000 in legal fees, claiming he lacks the means to pay his counsel for the 'extensive work completed' during the legal battle

The legal war erupted last month after Martinez accused Berry of physically abusing their 13-year-old son Maceo. Berry has denied all of the allegations

Martinez alleged in the documents, 'I have not had any acting roles for years now. Petitioner, on the other hand, has starred in Crime 101, a film released in 2026, and is working on two additional films'

TMZ reported that Martinez was awarded primary physical custody of Maceo and that Berry lost overnight visits with their child.

A rep for the actress told the site Berry still retains joint legal custody and also holds the tiebreaker should she and Martinez struggle to reach an agreement.

Martinez, who previously had 50/50 custody over Maceo with Berry, was awarded primary custody of their son but the domestic violence restraining order (TRO) Martinez wanted to make permanent was dissolved, according to NBC LA. 

'We are extremely pleased that the Court has dissolved the TRO,' Marina Beck, Berry's attorney, told The Daily Mail of the latest move. 'As we move forward, Halle is determined to continue to focus on the well-being and best interests of her family.'

After the ruling, Martinez expressed hopes that relations between Maceo and his mother will be smoother in the future.

Berry seen leaving the courtroom with her fiancee Van Hunt last week 

He told Extra: 'I truly hope Maceo and his mother will be able to have a better relationship in the future....

'I don't want my son to hate his mom. I want him to love her. I want him to forgive her, and I want them to reconciliate in some sort at one point.'

The legal saga broke out after Martinez accused Berry in a court filing of 'physically abusing' their son Maceo 'by jumping on him and choking him' in a September 26 incident. Berry has denied all of the allegations.

A source for Page Six called the TRO dissolution 'a huge win' for Berry.

Patrick Baghdaserians, Martinez's lawyer, told TMZ Berry's lawyers sought to restore their 50/50 arrangement but the judge rejected their request.

The judge will reportedly re-consider the custody matter next month.

Berry and Martinez had been married from 2013 to 2015, finalizing their split in 2023.