Mel Gibson to Lose Daughter to Oksana Grigorieva?

Certainly one of the most talked about non-couple of the year is Mel Gibson and his former flame and baby mother Oksana Grigorieva. The couple had daughter Lucia shortly before their very dramatic split and it has been a war of words, texts and public interviews ever since.

So will Mel Gibson lose his daughter? If Oksana Grigorieva has her way he will. Looking to limit Gibson's contact with Lucia to monitored visitation, the Russian singer will certainly be using all of the public disputes the couple has had as fodder for her cause.

Not to be outdone, Gibson is asking for any and all visitation rights of Grigorieva to be stripped, characterizing her as unstable and potentially harmful to Lucia, according to the omnipresent gossip site TMZ.

"The hearing will be a continuation of matters they were dealing with last time they were in court. Oksana wants to restrict Mel's visitation rights with Lucia," a source close to the couple is quoted in the Vancouver Sun. Also up for review is a very telling interview Grigorieva recently gave to Larry King.

Whether public of private, child custody issues pose particular problems for courts because so much of the determination depends on the ability for two people to co-parent.

In the end, courts are to look out for the best interest of the child. Mel Gibson has made it quite clear to Oksana and the tabloid-loving public that he has more than just ill will towards her. Will Mel Gibson lose his daughter in this custody battle? Whether the court will find him capable of separating his disdain for Oksana (and vice versa) when it comes to Lucia will be an interesting judgment call.

Related Resources:

• Mel Gibson Custody on the Line (TMZ)
• Child Custody Basics (FindLaw)