AMANZA Smith has won sole custody of the the two children she shares with ex-husband Ralph Brown, who has been missing since 2019.
The Selling Sunset star, who is mom to Noah, 11, and Braker, 10, was awarded full legal and physical custody at a Los Angeles courthouse on Wednesday.
Amanza, 44, told People: “I’m relieved that this long process is over. It’s been incredibly hard on me and especially the children.
“We will never be ‘over’ the absence of their father, but hopefully we can move forward in a more positive way now that we are unhindered by the legal obstacles that prevented me from making the decisions that are best for us as a family of three.”
A rep for the Netflix star, added: “This incredibly difficult process was sadly necessary to allow Amanza to make decisions for the welfare of the children that joint custody has prevented, such as getting them in therapy to help them deal with the loss of their father.”
Amanza married Ralph in 2010 but they separated two years later.
Up until 2019 they were coparenting and shared custody, with the kids alternating weeks with each parent.
The former NFL player disappeared in August 2019, and Amanza hasn’t heard from him since September 2019.
Earlier this month The Celeb Report exclusively revealed that Ralph skipped a custody mediation on September 8.
While Amanza was present, Ralph did not appear and the mediation did not occur.
Amanza originally requested full lease an physical custody of her kids in October 2019 after realizing she couldn’t get in contact with her ex-husband.
In court papers previously obtained by The Celeb Report, the real-estate agent claimed the former Arizona Cardinals player ran through his significant savings and retirement fund from the NFL in a “short period of time.”
She claimed he “has not been steadily and gainfully employed in any stable form.”
The court papers continued: “As a result, he has not made a single payment of child support since before the judgment was entered in 2015.
‘STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE’
“It has been a regular struggle for me to survive with no help from him.”
She then claimed the former motivational speaker “disappeared.”
The documents alleged: “On September 1, 2019, Ralph sent me an email entitled ‘No Roof for Kids.’ He wrote, ‘For the past few years I have not had any stability nor financially, to keep over my head or for the kids.
‘On Sunday a week ago today the kids and I slept in my car with no food, no water, and no restroom. I have exceeded my resources and no longer have a roof for the kids, nor the ability to take care of them.
‘It is not safe that the kids be with me. You will have to keep the kids until the situation changes.’”
Amanza said she had not heard from Ralph since that day and that she has kept the children in her care. She also said all of his family refuses to speak to her and have blocked attempts at contact.
She continued in the court papers: “I have no idea what is going on with Ralph.
“However, I don’t know if he is suffering from depression or whether or not he may be now having problems from the many concussions he suffered in pro-football, or if he has developed a drug issue…
‘COMPLETELY GONE’
“I just know that he is completely gone.”
Amanza explained how his “sudden disappearance” has left her children “devastated,” as they had a “close and loving relationship.”
She ended the court filing: “If and when Ralph does come back, I need to be able to ensure that he is coming back into their lives in a good place and does not intend on abandoning them again. I have no desire to take custody away from him, except to protect our children.
“When he returns and if he is emotionally stable, I believe we will have no problem modifying this requested order by stipulation.”
Ralph updated his address and informed the court that he would be representing himself.
The Celeb Report attempted to reach Ralph via phone and email at the time, but he did not respond.
Amanza works as a real estate agent at The Oppenheim Group on Netflix’s Selling Sunset.
She opened up about going to court to obtain full custody on Season 3 of the Netflix series.
The cast is currently filming for Season 4.
