Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans gets full custody of son after more than a decade

Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans has been granted full custody of her 13-year-old son Jace after more than a decade.

The 31-year-old previously handed over custody to her mother, Barbara Evans, following her struggles with drug addiction and multiple arrests as a preteen.

After signing the legal papers on March 16, Evans was overcome with emotions and shared a video of the moment on TikTok.

She told fans: “Words can't describe how happy I truly am. Our family is complete now! Thank you mom.”

The Teen Mom alum welcomed the little boy in 2009 with ex-boyfriend Andrew Lewis, before relinquishing custody shortly after he was born.

At the time, Evans was just 17 and documented her entire pregnancy on MTV’s 16 and Pregnant after discovering she was expecting.

Tik Tok/ Janelle Evans

In a statement about her new custody agreement, she told US Weekly: “My mom and I decided together to grant full custody back to me because we want to build our relationship back as mother and daughter.

“We have officially signed the papers on Thursday, March 16th at the courthouse.

“It's a done deal!”

Having also given birth to a little girl Ensley in 2017, the star wanted her children to be reunited under one roof and have more stability as they grow up.

Both women are also keen to have Jace learn about ‘boy things’ from his stepfather David Eason, 34, who also has two children from a previous relationship.

“She also thinks it's important for Jace to be around a father figure to learn "boy things" and have "men talk,” said the reality star, adding her mum ‘has seen the way David parents [her] children’.

Instagram/ Janelle Evans

It’s not the first time Evans has had to fight for custody of her children.

As well as a decade-long battle for Jace, Evans briefly lost custody of her other children after an incident involving her French Bulldog, Nugget.

Back in 2019, the dog allegedly bit her youngest child Ensley and the children were removed shortly after this – spending a year away from their mother.

Her and husband David also briefly separated after this, but thankfully the family seems more united than ever.

Topics: Parenting, Celebrity, Entertainment, TV And Film

Katherine Sidnell

Katherine is an entertainment journalist with a love of all things nerdy. Starting out writing Doctor Who fan fiction as a kid, she has gone on to interview the likes of Matt Damon, James May and Dua Lipa to name a few. Published in The Sun, The Daily Mail and Evening Standard - she now joins Ladbible as resident nerd in chief.

@ksidnell