Shakira and Gerard Piqué appeared in a Barcelona court on Tuesday, nearly four years after their separation agreement was validated. The couple is now involved in a new court proceeding, initiated by Shakira, to modify the visitation schedule for their two children, Milan and Sasha, who are 13 and 11 years old, respectively.
A statement issued by Shakira's legal team coinciding with the start of the audience emphasized the artist's request that the custody arrangement not solely prioritize the children's time. The statement, as reported by Hola magazine, clarified that the proposed measure does not aim to decrease the minors' time spent with their father, but rather to balance the logistical challenges associated with frequent travel between Miami, where the children reside with their mother since April 2023, and Barcelona, the residence of the children's father.
A recent court filing outlines Piqué's travel arrangements during the children's brief vacations, which involve him taking them to the United States to minimize the need for transatlantic flights and associated jet lag, thereby safeguarding their emotional, physical health and maintaining consistency in their educational and social schedules.
Both parties engaged in negotiations, with the active involvement of the judge and the prosecutor, until the very end in an effort to reach a last-minute agreement and thereby avoid the trial.
A convention in effect since the end of 2022 has provided the former footballer with three annual school breaks (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Holy Week), ten days of work per month, and 70% of the summer holiday period. Nevertheless, the passage of time and the teenagers' academic schedules have led the interpreter to seek a formal revision of these terms.
Shakira's legal team has issued a statement, expressing appreciation to the media for their sensitivity in handling the case involving minors. The statement also emphasizes the need for the utmost respect for the family's privacy as the case proceeds to its next judicial phase.
